For the third year in a row, the number of convictions and actual prison terms has been falling in Russia, including under the mo...

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For the third year in a row, the number of actual prison sentences in Russia has been falling, including under the most widespread “drug” articles. But people are being imprisoned more often under political articles and the military

The decline in the number of convictions and actual prison terms is shown by the statistics of courts of general jurisdiction published in the EMISS database (Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System). This year, the Judicial Department classified the full statistics. ◼️ Imprisonment is being imposed less and less often

The number of actual prison sentences has been declining for the third year in a row. In 2022, 167,000 people were sent to penal colonies, in 2023 — 161,000, in 2024 — 147,000. In 2025, the figure falls even more sharply — to 113,000 (–23% compared with 2024). The decline is almost entirely due to district courts — over three years, more than 50,000 fewer sentences. At the same time, the number of sentences in military courts is increasing.

◼️ The total number of convicted people is also shrinking

In 2022, 579,000 people were convicted in criminal cases, in 2023 — 556,000, in 2024 — 513,000, and in 2025 — already 438,000 (–14.6%). The key drop again comes from district courts (–100,000 over three years), while garrison military courts show sharp growth: from 4,100 convicted in 2022 to 7,800 in 2023 and 13,700 in 2024, and in 2025 — 13,600, meaning growth of more than three times over three years.

◼️ Drug cases are declining

In 2022, 75,000 people were convicted under “drug” articles (because of the number of sentences, they are called “people’s” articles), in 2023 — 73,000, in 2024 — 70,000, and in 2025 — about 55,000 (–21.4%). The decline is driven by ordinary courts, but in the military courts the trend is the opposite: over three years, the number of such sentences has grown almost fourfold.

◼️ Children are being imprisoned more often

After several years of decline, the number of convicted teenagers rose again in 2025. In 2022 — 14,200, in 2023 — 12,800 (–9.9%), in 2024 — 11,900 (–7%), but in 2025 — already 12,100 (+1.7%).

◼️ They are not being imprisoned in order to send them to the front

This is how Yevgeny Smirnov, a lawyer with the First Department, explains the decline in convictions. According to him, at every stage — from the investigation to the court — defendants are pressured and offered a contract as an alternative. This affects the statistics on convictions and punishments. At the same time, a decline in the number of convictions does not necessarily mean a decline in crime.

◼️ There is no one left to solve crimes and lock people up

Lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov points to another factor: the war is weakening the capacity of the investigative bodies (staff numbers are shrinking — many are also being sent to the front — and priorities are changing). As a result, Interior Ministry units fighting economic crime and organized crime have become less effective.

◼️ Fewer convictions, but a harsher system

OVD-Info representative Dmitry Anisimov notes: the reduction in the number of convictions does not mean repression is easing. On the contrary, average prison terms are growing and the structure of cases is changing — security forces are increasingly switching to more serious articles. If earlier they widely used “discreditation” and “fakes,” now the number of cases for “justifying terrorism” and treason is growing, where sentences reach double digits.