A Moscow court has sentenced former Russian Foreign Ministry official Arseniy Konovalov to 12 years in a high-security prison after convicting him of high treason, ruling that he leaked classified information to U.S. intelligence services. The verdict was delivered on December 26, 2025, concluding a case that has remained largely opaque since his arrest.

Konovalov, 38, was detained in March 2024 after returning to Russia from a foreign posting. Russian authorities allege that during his time abroad, he passed sensitive state information to U.S. intelligence, a charge that carries severe penalties under Russian law.

Footage released by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) shows Konovalov being abruptly arrested inside a van, where agents inform him that he is suspected of treason while refusing to provide immediate details. Additional images from the trial depict him standing inside a metal cage in the courtroom, a common practice in Russian criminal proceedings involving serious national security charges.

The trial was conducted behind closed doors, and officials have released limited public evidence to support the accusations. State media outlets reported that the court classified the materials involved as state secrets, citing national security concerns as justification for the lack of transparency.

The case highlights the increasingly strict environment surrounding espionage and national security in Russia, where treason convictions have risen sharply in recent years. Critics argue that such prosecutions are often conducted with minimal public oversight, while Russian authorities maintain that they are necessary to protect the state from foreign intelligence threats.

Konovalov’s sentencing adds to a growing list of high-profile treason cases and underscores the serious risks faced by Russian officials accused of cooperating with foreign governments, particularly amid heightened geopolitical tensions.