A resident of Kabardino-Balkaria has been convicted of treason.

The Supreme Court of Kabardino-Balkaria sentenced a resident of the republic to a lengthy prison term, finding him guilty of treason.

The treason charge (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code) carries a sentence of twelve to twenty years in prison. In some cases, if other charges are also involved, it can carry a sentence of up to life imprisonment.

According to the prosecution, the Russian citizen, living in Kabardino-Balkaria, was engaged in espionage for a foreign state. On assignment from this "foreign intelligence service," he collected and transmitted information constituting state secrets, as well as other data that, according to the prosecution, could be used against the security of the Russian Federation. The specific foreign state with which the accused collaborated is not specified.

The verdict for the Kabardino-Balkaria resident was handed down on April 16, but the court's press service only announced it today. "The case was heard behind closed doors due to the nature of the information contained in the materials," the statement published on the court's website noted.

The court sentenced the man to the minimum sentence stipulated by the article – 12 years' imprisonment with one year of restricted freedom. The first three years of the sentence must be served in prison, and the remainder in a maximum-security penal colony. He is also required to pay a fine of 100,000 rubles.

The court's press service did not specify whether the defendant pleaded guilty or how he gained access to information constituting a state secret. According to the court's website, the case was heard beginning in December 2025, and Judge Bekir Makoyev delivered the verdict.

The defendant's name is hidden from the case file. Caucasian Knot has not yet received any comment from his lawyer regarding his plans to appeal the verdict.

"Caucasian Knot" also reported that in early March, the same judge, Bekir Makoyev, sentenced a local resident of Kabardino-Balkaria to 13 years in prison, finding him guilty of treason and preparation for sabotage. The court also did not release the name of the man convicted in this case.

In mid-February, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Kabardino-Balkaria resident Vitaly Gaivoronsky guilty of attempting a terrorist attack at the Nalchik train station and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.