What has Changed in Politicized Law Enforcement in Russia since 2022 and What Has Not?

• In Event: Law as a Tool of Authoritarian Control in Contemporary Russia

Abstract

The outbreak of a large-scale war in 2022 and the protests against it have significantly impacted the intensity and political orientation of the enforcement of criminal and administrative norms in Russia – both those that are inherently politicized and those commonly used for political purposes. However, it is important to remember that the Russian authorities actively relied on politicized law enforcement even before 2022, with the previous two decades witnessing several significant shifts in its application. The war marked yet another such turning point.
At the same time, politicized law enforcement in Russia has never been confined to a single political sector. Since the early 2000s, it has been applied across various sectors from which the authorities perceive a security threat – whether to society or the political regime. This multidimensional approach has remained a defining characteristic in recent years, reflecting the complexity of Russian society itself.
Since 2022, we have witnessed a rapid erosion of legal norms and law enforcement in politically significant areas, alongside growing concerns among the authorities about maintaining stability. The use of repression as a tool for reinforcing "traditional values" has also become more pronounced.
Together, these developments create a complex dynamic that this paper seeks to analyze.