When your freedom is at stake in Russia
Immediate legal support for foreign citizens facing detention, investigation, or criminal charges in the Russian Federation.
"Write to me in your own language. It is no trouble at all — it is an honour to help."
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Full-cycle defense during detention, preliminary investigation, and trial in Russia.
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Strategic defense in appellate courts for international defendants.
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Final review and appeal of sentences entered into force.
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Helping foreigners secure early release and deportation legalities.
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15+ years
of practice
In criminal law, there are no small details. Any error in the investigation is your chance for success. What I look for are the systemic violations — the ones that let even a heavy sentence be overturned or reduced.
This site is my personal practice. If what you need first is the procedure itself — each stage of a Russian criminal case set out step by step — that is on our second English site, Yalanzhi & Partners.
I work in Moscow and travel to the regions — most of these cases are heard far from the capital.
Foreign citizens have rights in a Russian criminal case that go beyond those of Russian nationals. They are rarely explained at the moment of arrest — the first hours decide a great deal.
Article 96(3) of the Russian Code of Criminal Procedure requires the embassy or consulate of your state to be notified when you are detained. Article 36 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations gives you the right to communicate with your consular officers. In practice the notification is often late: state on the record that you request it, and insist it is written into the detention protocol.
Article 18 of the Code of Criminal Procedure: if you do not have a sufficient command of Russian, you are entitled to an interpreter at no cost to you, and to receive the charge sheet and the judgment translated into your native language. Never sign a document in Russian that has not been interpreted to you — a signature on an unread protocol is used as evidence.
A consul can visit you in custody, check the conditions of detention, inform your family, hand over a list of lawyers and react if you are treated worse because you are a foreigner. A consul cannot release you, pay bail or fines, act as your defence lawyer or influence the court. Consular support is not a substitute for defence counsel.
Transfer to your own country is possible only where a bilateral treaty with Russia is in force. The multilateral European mechanism no longer operates for Russia, so the question has to be checked separately for your citizenship and your specific case, after the judgment becomes final.
Fifteen days from the day the judgment is pronounced, or from the day a copy is served if the convicted person is in custody (Art. 389.4 of the Code of Criminal Procedure). After the judgment enters into force there are a further six months of full cassation review, when the complaint must be heard (Art. 401.3). After that only selective cassation remains.
Once the statutory share of the term has been served: at least 1/3 for minor and medium-gravity offences, 1/2 for grave offences, 2/3 for especially grave ones and 3/4 for drug and terrorism offences (Art. 79(3) of the Criminal Code). In every case at least six months must actually have been served.
Say nothing without your own lawyer — Art. 51 of the Russian Constitution lets you refuse to testify against yourself. Demand an interpreter before any questioning; it is free of charge under Art. 18 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Ask for your consulate to be notified (Art. 96(3)) and insist it is written into the detention protocol.
Yes. Defence is conducted in Moscow and across the regions of Russia, including travel to appellate and cassation courts. The first review of your documents is free — sending a scan of the judgment or the court order is enough to start.
Answer a few questions to get a preliminary assessment of your situation from our leading experts.