Russian criminal defence: detention, investigation, evidence, preventive measures, trial and appeals. Practical guidance from lawyer Olga Sverchkova.
What to do if drugs are planted on you in Russia: how to behave during a search, what not to sign, which tests can show the substance wasn’t yours, rights of foreign nationals and what relatives can do.
A sample criminal appeal in Russia: short and full appeal templates with English translation and comments from a Russian advocate, in Word and PDF.
How to appeal a criminal conviction in Russia: the 15-day deadline, where the appeal is filed, what to check in the first days after the verdict and what happens in cassation.
When a Russian tax dispute may develop into a criminal case, who may be personally liable and why the amount of tax arrears is only part of the analysis.
How an ordinary commercial dispute can develop into a Russian criminal case, what this means for directors and employees, and what matters when building a defence.
What asset freezing means in Russian criminal proceedings, how it differs from property taken during a search, whose assets may be affected and how restrictions can be challenged.
What to do during a search of premises in Russia, including checking the legal basis, contacting a lawyer, monitoring seized property and reviewing the written protocol.
Questioning in a Russian criminal case can have lasting consequences. What suspects and witnesses should know about legal representation, Article 51, the written protocol and language rights.
What Russian courts consider when deciding on pre-trial detention, what evidence the defence can present, and when house arrest, bail or other alternatives may be argued.
What happens after detention in a Russian criminal case, when a suspect can speak to a lawyer, what to check before signing documents and what relatives should find out.