The Story

Mikhail Loshchinin: A fabricated treason case in Russia

In recent years, Russia has dramatically increased prosecutions for alleged “high treason,” often based on fabricated or extremely broad accusations. Even minor actions — such as private messages, online comments, or small money transfers — can now lead to severe criminal charges. Dual nationals and Russians who have lived abroad are particularly at risk.

Arrest at the border

In summer 2025, Mikhail Loshchinin, a 48-year-old Belgian–Russian dual citizen, decided to travel to Russia to visit his father, who had recently suffered a heart attack. Mikhail had lived in Germany in recent years and worked as a database administrator in Luxembourg.

On 1 July 2025, he crossed the Latvian–Russian border by motorcycle at the Ubylinka checkpoint (Pskov region), using his Russian passport. Russian border guards confiscated his phone for inspection and reportedly found contacts from Ukraine — something Mikhail never considered illegal.

According to his family, border officers then staged a provocation: they escorted him into a restricted border zone under the pretext of showing him a shop, and immediately detained him for allegedly entering that zone illegally.

Month of detention without charges

Instead of being formally arrested, Mikhail was placed under guard in the “Dubrava” hotel in the town of Pytalovo, where he spent almost a month (July 2025). His passport, phone, and motorcycle documents were confiscated, and he could not leave without escort. No formal charges were brought during this time.

On 2 August 2025, unidentified officials took him from the hotel and transported him for several days across Russia. For a time, his family did not know his whereabouts.

Secret transfer and torture

It later emerged that Mikhail had been taken to Stary Oskol (Belgorod region), where he was held in a facility used for Ukrainian prisoners of war.

According to Mikhail’s testimony to his lawyer, he was subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including beatings, forced nudity, deprivation of glasses (he has –8 vision), and constant intimidation. The purpose, his family believes, was to break him and force him to sign documents.

He was coerced into signing a statement falsely claiming he had been freely traveling in Russia until 21 August, despite documented evidence that he was in detention.

Formal charges: high treason

On 21 August 2025, Mikhail was finally able to call his family from Pskov Remand Prison (SIZO-1). He said he was charged under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code (High Treason) — allegedly for “financing representatives of a foreign state hostile to the Russian Federation.”

The charge appears to be based on a private money transfer in 2022 to a former partner who lives in Ukraine. Human rights lawyers note that Russian authorities often claim, without evidence, that such recipients are linked to Ukrainian security forces.

Health at serious risk

Mikhail’s health has sharply deteriorated in detention. He suffers from severe vision problems, and doctors warned him in 2024 that he would need urgent surgery if retinal symptoms appeared. Those symptoms have now begun, raising fears that he could permanently lose his sight if proper treatment is denied.

He turned 48 years old on 10 November 2025 while in detention.

A wider pattern of repression

According to independent estimates, at least 148 people were charged with treason-related offenses in Russia in 2023, and 115 new treason cases were initiated in the first half of 2025 alone — twice as many as in the same period in 2024. Human rights groups believe official figures significantly understate the real number.

Lawyers stress that convictions under Article 275 can lead to sentences of up to 13 years, and that release is often possible only through political prisoner exchanges.

International access denied

Despite Mikhail’s Belgian citizenship, Russian authorities have repeatedly refused consular access, stating that Russia does not recognize his second nationality.

Who is Mikhail?

Mikhail Loshchinin is described by his family and friends as apolitical, deeply involved in culture and the arts, a musician, theatre technician, and motorcycle enthusiast. He actively promoted Russian culture within European communities and worked with small Russian-language theaters abroad.

He has no criminal history and no known connection to politics or security matters.

Call for support

Mikhail’s family and friends are appealing for international attention, public advocacy, and political pressure, especially from Belgian and European institutions. His case exemplifies the growing danger faced by dual nationals and Russians with ties abroad.

Mikhail Loshchinin is innocent. His detention is arbitrary. His health is at risk.