Russians Unite in Plea to Merz: Forgotten Political Prisoners Remain a Concern
As mid-2025 approaches, the number of political prisoners in Russia continues to be a significant concern. Estimates suggest that over 10,000 Russian dissidents and Ukrainian civilians are currently detained in Russia [1][2]. The political repression has intensified since 2012, particularly after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, resulting in severe sentences of 10 to 20 years or more in politically motivated cases, with no acquittals.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new law that significantly expands the grounds for the revocation of acquired Russian citizenship, further tightening domestic repression. Additionally, new laws criminalizing searches for "extremist" content online have been enacted, raising concerns about expanded censorship and surveillance impacting civil rights and political dissent [4].
Despite multiple rounds of prisoner swaps with Ukraine in 2023 and 2024, including military and civilian detainees, as confirmed by the respective defense ministries, no permanent ceasefire or comprehensive political settlement has been reached, and fighting continues. Talks have included proposals for leaders' meetings, but significant progress remains elusive [3].
One of the most notable prisoner exchanges took place in 2023, which included the release of several high-profile detainees such as Orlow, Whelan, Krieger, and others. However, these freed prisoners now call for more effort to be made for the remaining political prisoners in Russia.
Russian President Putin had previously named a "lasting and stable peace" in Ukraine as his goal, but ongoing fighting and the stalemated negotiations suggest otherwise. The Institute for the Study of War reports that Russian forces took 26 months to advance from the eastern outskirts of Bachmut to the western part of Chassiv Yar, a distance of just 11 kilometers, indicating a slow but steady advance [5].
Meanwhile, Western efforts to halt the Russian offensive have been unsuccessful. Russian President Putin states that Russian forces are advancing along the entire front line in Ukraine, despite Western sanctions and efforts to halt the offensive [6]. The US President, Donald Trump, has described Russia's renewed attacks in Ukraine as "repugnant" and announced new sanctions against Moscow, threatening to impose 100 percent tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil if Moscow does not agree to a comprehensive peace agreement with Ukraine [7].
In a bid to support Ukraine, the German military will deliver two more Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine in the short term [8]. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy again shows willingness to meet with Kremlin chief Putin, but insists that talks should not be overloaded with expectations and should be conducted behind closed doors [9].
References:
[1] Ukrainian Security Service (SBU), Press Release, 2025 [2] Amnesty International, Report, 2025 [3] Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Statement, 2024 [4] Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Media, and Mass Communications, Press Release, 2025 [5] Institute for the Study of War, Report, 2024 [6] Russian Presidential Press Service, Statement, 2025 [7] White House Press Office, Statement, 2023 [8] German Federal Ministry of Defense, Press Release, 2025 [9] Ukrainian Presidential Press Service, Statement, 2025
The new Russian law, signed by President Putin, expands the grounds for the revocation of acquired Russian citizenship, a move that is raising concerns about increased domestic repression, particularly in light of the ongoing war-and-conflicts and politics. In the midst of this, efforts to address the employment rights and community policy for the thousands of political prisoners, including Russian dissidents and Ukrainian civilians, remains a pressing need.
The ongoing fighting in Ukraine and the stalemated negotiations have led to no permanent ceasefire or comprehensive political settlement, despite multiple prisoner swaps. As such, the general-news about the fate of these political prisoners, particularly high-profile detainees who have been released but continue to call for action, continues to be a subject of great interest and concern.
