Called in for a 'chat' or for questioning

• Questioning is part of a criminal case. You may be summoned on paper, by phone or otherwise (art. 188 CPC); check through a lawyer what it is. Ignoring a proper summons can mean being brought in by force.
• By law a 'chat' or 'interview' without a criminal case is voluntary. In practice a refusal sometimes leads to a report for disobeying the police, so agree with a lawyer how to decline. The conversation may be recorded and used.
• The law requires a witness to testify, but art. 51 of the Constitution lets you refuse to testify against yourself or close relatives. Human rights groups advise going with a lawyer.
• People are usually advised to leave their phone at home, tell someone close where they are going, and note the officer's full name and rank.
• Special cases (recruitment attempts, being called in over a visa, scammers posing as the FSB) are covered in First Department guides.
• Witnesses and article 51. A witness may decline only questions about themselves, their spouse and close relatives: parents, children, adoptive parents and adopted children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren (art. 5 pt 4 CPC). A blanket refusal without that reason can lead to a case under art. 308 CC. OVD-Info says such cases are very rarely opened.
• Your status can change: witnesses often become suspects (OVD-Info). A suspect or accused may refuse to give any statement at all (arts 46, 47 CPC). If an accused refuses at the first questioning, they can be questioned again on the same charge only at their own request (art. 173 CPC).
• Explanations before a case. If you are asked to 'give an explanation' during a check of a crime report, you must be told of your right not to testify against yourself or relatives and your right to a lawyer (art. 144 pt 1.1 CPC). A lawyer may take part at this stage (art. 49 CPC). You need not discuss your political views (art. 29 pt 3 of the Constitution).

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: First Department: if someone tries to recruit you (foreign agent); First Department: FSB summons over a visa (foreign agent); OVD-Info: questioning, interviews and 'chats' (extremist); Criminal Procedure Code, art. 5 pt 4: who counts as a close relative (in Russian); Criminal Procedure Code, art. 56: rights and duties of a witness (in Russian); Criminal Code, art. 308: a witness's refusal to testify (in Russian); Criminal Code, art. 307: knowingly false testimony (in Russian); Criminal Procedure Code, art. 46: rights of a suspect (in Russian); Criminal Procedure Code, art. 173 pt 4: repeat questioning only at the accused's request (in Russian); Criminal Procedure Code, art. 144 pt 1.1: rights during a pre-investigation check (in Russian); Criminal Procedure Code, art. 49: the defender and from when (in Russian); Russian Constitution, art. 29 pt 3: no one may be forced to express opinions (in Russian); OVD-Info: choosing a lawyer and whether to trust an appointed one (in Russian) (foreign agent, extremist, on Rosfinmonitoring list); First Department: how to behave during questioning (in Russian) (foreign agent)