Nationality Russian — Law and human-rights defence

Maria Bontsler

Also known as: Мария Бонцлер, Maria Bonzler

Updated on 14 November 2026

Justice, police and intelligence Whistleblowers, victims and witnesses

Russian human-rights lawyer in Kaliningrad sentenced to 12 years for treason in November 2026.

Maria Bontsler is a Russian lawyer known for defending people prosecuted in political cases. Arrested in 2025, she was sentenced to twelve years for treason in November 2026. She denies the accusations, while legal rights groups criticise the political nature of the case and her trial conditions.

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1Documented controversy

4Sources

1 followed by a conviction

§ Legal statuses reflect the documented sources as of the date shown; they replace neither court decisions nor the presumption of innocence. Counts are not a rating. Methodology

I. Documented controversies

May 2025–November 2026

2025-2026: lawyer sentenced to 12 years for “treason” after a closed-door trial

Criminal conviction

Maria Bontsler, a Kaliningrad lawyer known for defending people prosecuted in political cases, was arrested on 28 May 2025 for “confidential cooperation with a foreign state”, a charge later upgraded to treason. On 12 November 2026 the Kaliningrad regional court sentenced her to 12 years in a penal colony for passing information on security officers and criminal cases to Ukraine; prosecutors had sought 15 years. The trial was held behind closed doors and, according to Reuters and The Insider, she and some of her lawyers were excluded from parts of the hearings.

State of the evidence: Reuters and The Moscow Times confirmed the court’s ruling despite the closed trial.
Legal status — source text: Sentenced on 12 November 2026 at first instance; appeal not confirmed.
Attribution: Allegedly passing information to Ukraine, as found by the Russian court and disputed by the defence.
Course of the proceedings: 28.05.2025 Formally charged — Arrest and initial prosecution for alleged confidential cooperation with a foreign state.

Sources · 4

[1]
ReutersCourt in Russia’s Kaliningrad sentences lawyer to 12 years on treason charge12 November 2026News agencyHigh reliability
[2]
The Moscow TimesRussia Jails Prominent Human Rights Lawyer 12 Years for Treason12 November 2026MediaHigh reliability
[3]
The InsiderProminent Russian lawyer who defended political prisoners sentenced to 12 years on treason charge12 November 2026Investigative journalismHigh reliability
[4]
International Commission of JuristsRussian Federation: Authorities must immediately release lawyer Maria Bontsler10 June 2025Official documentHigh reliability

Last verified: 14 November 2026

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II. Constellation of documented links

No documented link with another published profile for now.

Two profiles are linked when a documented controversy of one names the other. The link points to that controversy and its sources; it does not indicate a personal relationship.

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Controversia profile, updated 14 November 2026. Latest version: https://controversia.info/en/fiche/maria-bontsler