October 14, 2026

A Spike of Suppression


A Spike of Suppression
Careful who your friends are. The Russian Life files.

A new report from Russian human rights organization Memorial reveals that the number of court cases involving affiliation with banned organizations rose by 50% in the first nine months of 2026.

The number of the accused so far this year stands at 328, up from 219.

The prosecuted represent members of a diverse range of organizations, most of them longtime targets of the regime. The top affiliation to see a crackdown is the late Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, which saw an increase of 107%, up from 69 to 143 people. Next is the Jehovah's Witnesses, up 102%, reaching 91 people this year. In third place is the somewhat bizarre Soviet revivalist "Citizens of the USSR" movement, up 117% to reach 29 people.

In addition, the number of people accused of financing extremist activities rocketed up 117%, from 77 to 167. And 67% of these cases fall under the jurisdiction of the FSB, Russia's internal security service.

Experts argue that the numbers tell an interesting story, as the overall count of political prosecutions is holding steady year-over-year. Their theory is that the regime is targeting organized groups rather than individuals, seeking to dismantle structures rather than private citizens.

 

 

 

You Might Also Like

Voice by Vote
  • September 27, 2026

Voice by Vote

Russia isn't known for its transparent democracy, but that didn't stop some voters from voicing their opinions through the ballot box.
QR, Codified
  • June 21, 2026

QR, Codified

The Russian State Duma is implementing a universal QR code payment system.
Russia's Unread War
  • June 15, 2026

Russia's Unread War

Russia's pro-war books are heavily promoted, but publishers say readers are not rushing to buy them.
Silencing the Defense
  • May 28, 2026

Silencing the Defense

Russian authorities are targeting lawyers who left the country but continue to defend from abroad, raising fears for the profession's independence.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955