Administrative court case: defending yourself

• Find a defender in advance: under the Code of Administrative Offences it need not be an advocate; it can be someone you trust. Since June 2026 OVD-Info no longer arranges lawyers in Russia, so many people defend themselves.
• Before the hearing, human rights groups advise reading the case file and checking the record against your copy: a missing signature or wrong time or place is grounds to ask for evidence to be excluded (art. 26.2 CAO).
• Submit motions and explanations in writing. By law you may make an audio recording of the hearing without permission (art. 24.3 CAO). If the judge still forbids it, ask for this to be put in the record. Don't argue, or you may be removed from the courtroom.
• An appeal must be filed within 10 days of receiving the ruling. A fine is due within 60 days of the ruling taking effect; not paying means a double fine or arrest (art. 20.25 CAO).
• OVD-Info has document templates. OVD-Info is designated 'extremist' in Russia. It says that asking for advice is not taking part in its activities, but contact it from a device you will not have to hand over if detained. RosShtraf helps pay fines in anti-war cases. Net Freedoms, First Department and Nora give advice.

Designations of organisations in this guide: OVD-Info (foreign agent, extremist, on Rosfinmonitoring list). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.

current as of 26 September 2026. More: OVD-Info: defend yourself (extremist); OVD-Info: paying a fine (extremist); RosShtraf