Questions of classification: Article 275 or Article 275⁽¹⁾ of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation?

Article 275⁽¹⁾ of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state (abbreviated)), which was introduced to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in 2022, is quite rare. In 2023, two people were convicted under this article, and in the first half of 2024, two more.

In the autumn of 2024, a former employee of the US Consulate General in Vladivostok, Russian citizen Robert Shonov, was convicted under this article for collecting data for the American side.

According to the Russian FSB (i.e. Federal Security Service) R. Shonov carried out assignments for Jeffrey Silline and David Bernstein, employees of the political department of the US Embassy in Moscow. In exchange for financial compensation, he collected information on the progress of the "special military operation" and mobilisation processes in Russian regions. Among other things, he noted problems in their implementation and assessed their impact on protest activity in Russia in the run-up to the 2024 presidential election.

The collection of information on behalf of a foreign intelligence service or a person acting in its interests, information for use against the security of the Russian Federation or collecting information for the purpose of transferring it to the enemy, which could be used against the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, falls under the classification of treason in the form of espionage (there is a separate article on espionage committed by a foreign citizen or a stateless person).

For classification under Article 275⁽¹⁾ of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, it is sufficient to establish and maintain confidential cooperation with a foreign party. It is not necessary to prove the transfer of the information above.

By the verdict of the Primorsky Regional Court R. Shonov was found guilty under Article 275⁽¹⁾ of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced to 4 years and 10 months' imprisonment with a fine of 1 million roubles and restriction of liberty for 1 year and 4 months.

Therefore, either the transfer of the described information was not proven, or it did not fall under the conditions specified in the law (Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), or it was not proven that the employees of the political department of the US Embassy were acting in the interests of American intelligence.