 We cannot allow for this to be happening. We cannot be like this. We cannot condone this. Also at townhall.com, treason cases were once rare in Russia, a handful each year, but they, along with espionage prosecutions, have skyrocketed since the invasion of Ukraine two years ago. The crackdown is ensnaring Russians and foreigners alike, regardless of their political views. Victims include Kremlin critics, independent journalists, and veteran scientists working with countries that Moscow considers friendly.