Russia: crime and justice

How many people are convicted of crimes in Russia?

437,840 people were convicted of criminal offences in Russian courts in 2025, according to the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court's 2025 conviction statistics.

Property crimes accounted for 153,611 convictions, about 35%, including theft and fraud. Drug offences accounted for 54,412 and transport offences, mainly driving offences, for 44,510. 87,305 of those convicted were women and 21,254 were foreign nationals or stateless people. The Judicial Department notes that the totals exclude courts in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

Official sources: Judicial Department: Conviction statistics, 2025 (Russian) · Judicial Department: Form 10.1, 2025 (Russian)

How many people are sentenced to prison in Russia?

113,477 people convicted in Russian courts in 2025 were sentenced to imprisonment, 25.9% of all those convicted, according to the Judicial Department's 2025 sentencing table. A further 92 received life sentences.

93,319 people received suspended prison sentences, 77,753 fines and 55,139 community service. The table counts the main sentence for each person convicted. Sentences of up to three years made up more than half of prison terms. Figures come from court reports compiled by the Judicial Department at the Supreme Court.

Official sources: Judicial Department: Form 10.1, 2025 (Russian)

How often are defendants acquitted in Russia?

1,026 people were acquitted by Russian courts in 2025, while 437,840 were convicted, according to the Judicial Department's 2025 sentencing table. Acquittals were about 0.2% of the number convicted.

Cases against a further 102,333 people were terminated, mostly on grounds other than the absence of a crime, including court fines in place of punishment. Many cases are heard under a special procedure when the defendant agrees with the charges: 140,239 people were convicted this way.

Official sources: Judicial Department: Form 10.1, 2025 (Russian)

How many people are convicted of murder in Russia?

3,483 people were convicted of murder in Russian courts in 2025, 2,650 for murder and 833 for murder with aggravating circumstances, according to the Judicial Department's 2025 sentencing table.

Convictions count people found guilty, not killings, and a case can take more than a year to reach a verdict. For comparison over time, the World Bank's homicide indicator, based on UN data, gives 6.8 intentional homicides per 100,000 people in 2021, down from 7.6 in 2019.

Official sources: Judicial Department: Form 10.1, 2025 (Russian) · World Bank: Intentional homicides, Russia

How many people are convicted of drug offences in Russia?

54,412 people were convicted of drug offences in Russian courts in 2025, according to the Judicial Department's 2025 sentencing table. That was 12.4% of all convictions.

Of those convicted for drug offences, 20,859 were sentenced to imprisonment. The category covers illegal production, sale, possession and other handling of narcotic and psychotropic substances. The Judicial Department publishes a separate table with more detail on drug-related convictions on its statistics page.

Official sources: Judicial Department: Form 10.1, 2025 (Russian) · Judicial Department: Conviction statistics, 2025 (Russian)

How many people are convicted of bribery in Russia?

3,545 people were convicted of giving bribes and 1,786 of taking bribes in Russian courts in 2025, according to the Judicial Department's 2025 sentencing table. A further 2,289 were convicted of petty bribery.

Russia scored −0.98 on the World Bank's control of corruption estimate for 2025, on a scale from about −2.5 to +2.5, compared with −0.90 in 2024. The estimate measures perceptions of corruption from surveys, while conviction figures show cases that reach court.

Official sources: Judicial Department: Form 10.1, 2025 (Russian) · World Bank: Control of Corruption estimate, Russia

What is the murder rate in Russia?

6.8 per 100,000: that is the intentional homicide rate in Russia for 2021, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. No year since 2005 has been lower. Europe & Central Asia median: 1.1 per 100,000; Russia is 1st highest of 44. World rank, highest first: 35th of 109.

How many women are murdered in Russia?

2.8 per 100,000: that is the homicide rate for women in Russia for 2023, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 0.7 per 100,000, and Russia placed 2nd highest of 36. World rank, highest first: 18th of 78.

How many men are killed in Russia?

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime puts the homicide rate for men in Russia at 9.9 per 100,000 in 2023. No year since 2005 has been lower. Across Europe & Central Asia the middle value was 1.3 per 100,000, and Russia placed 1st highest of 36. Of 78 countries with 2023 data, 27th highest.

How many battle deaths has Russia had?

In 2024, battle-related deaths in Russia was 7,670, according to the Uppsala Conflict Data Program. That is the highest since at least 2005. Worldwide: 3rd of 41.