Russian rights group documents at least 69 deaths among victims of political persecution since 2022
At least 69 people subjected to politically motivated persecution by Russian authorities have died in Russia since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a report published by Memorial’s Political Prisoner Support human rights project to mark the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression.
At least 69 people have died in Russia due to politically motivated persecution since 2022, according to a Memorial report marking the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression. Illness and a lack of medical care were the leading causes of death, accounting for 29 cases. Twenty people died from beatings, torture, or their aftereffects, while 10 took their own lives.
One person died as a result of a hunger strike, and Alexey Navalny was deliberately killed in a penal colony. The remaining eight deaths have unknown causes. The majority of these fatalities occurred in 2024, with 26 people dying, followed by 13 in 2025 and 16 in the first ten months of 2026. The average age of the victims was 51, with the youngest being Ukrainian journalist Daniil Dakhov and pianist Pavel Grimak, both 18.
The deaths occurred in various settings, including pretrial detention centers, penal colonies, during searches, under house arrest, and shortly after their release.
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