Original Russian-language document. Criminal Code (УК РФ), Ch. 29, Art. 275 (“Государственная измена”). Current redaction, expanded by Federal Law No. 260-FZ of 14 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2026; verify wording against the official publication at pravo.gov.ru. Part of the TOT Insights collection of Russian federal security-law provisions used to police collaboration, information-sharing and dissent in the occupied territories.
Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code criminalises high treason by a citizen of the Russian Federation — espionage, the handing over of state secrets, “going over to the enemy’s side,” or providing “financial, material-technical, consultative or other assistance” to a foreign state or organisation in activity directed against Russian security. It carries 12 to 20 years or life imprisonment. Expanded by Federal Law No. 260-FZ (14 July 2022), a note added that year defines “going over to the enemy’s side” to include voluntary participation in enemy bodies. Because treason can be charged only against a Russian citizen, this is the pivotal article once passportisation is factored in: mass Russian-passport uptake across the four occupied regions and Crimea makes residents who take a passport chargeable with treason for contact with Ukraine — the passport presented as protection is precisely what converts a resident into a potential traitor.
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Article 275 — High Treason
High treason, that is, espionage committed by a citizen of the Russian Federation; the handing over to a foreign state, an international or foreign organisation or their representatives of information constituting a state secret entrusted to the person or made known to them through their service, work, study or in other cases provided for by legislation; going over to the enemy’s side; or the provision of financial, material and technical, consultative or other assistance to a foreign state, an international or foreign organisation or their representatives in activity directed against the security of the Russian Federation, —
shall be punishable by deprivation of liberty for a term of twelve to twenty years, with a fine of up to 500,000 roubles (or the convicted person’s income for up to three years) or without such a fine, and with restriction of liberty for up to two years, or by life imprisonment.
Note 1. For this article and Articles 276 and 276.1, the “enemy” means a foreign state or international/foreign organisation directly opposing the Russian Federation in an armed conflict, hostilities or other actions involving weapons and military equipment.
Note 2. “Going over to the enemy’s side” means participation as part of the enemy’s forces in an armed conflict or hostilities, or voluntary participation in the activity of the enemy’s authorities, institutions, enterprises or organisations knowingly directed against Russian security.
Note 3. A person is exempted from liability under this article (and Articles 276, 276.1, 278 and 279) if, by a voluntary and timely report, they helped prevent further damage to Russian interests, provided their actions contain no other elements of an offence.
Relevance to coercion in the occupied territories
This is the pivotal article once passportisation is factored in. Treason can be charged only against a Russian citizen. Because Russia has driven mass Russian-passport uptake across the four regions and Crimea, residents who take a passport become chargeable with treason for contact with Ukraine, carrying up to life imprisonment. The two limbs used against occupied-territory residents are “going over to the enemy’s side” and providing “financial, material, consultative or other assistance.” Note 2, added in July 2022, sweeps in anyone who cooperates with Ukrainian authorities or forces. It is legal-architecture entrapment in its purest form: acquiring the passport is presented as protection, yet it is precisely what converts a resident into a potential traitor.