Detained or summoned for questioning

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Ask on what grounds you are being held and in what capacity. Administrative detention usually lasts up to 3 hours; for offences that can carry arrest (19.3, 20.2 pt 6.1, 20.3 CAO) up to 48 hours (art. 27.5 CAO).
• Human rights groups usually advise not giving statements: art. 51 of the Constitution lets you refuse to testify against yourself. Access to your own lawyer is requested in writing.
• Read every record in full, strike through blank fields, write any disagreement in the 'explanations' section and ask for copies.
• The law provides for a phone to be seized only with a written record; it does not expressly require you to give your passcode. Keep your lawyer's and family's numbers on paper.
• Where to turn: Network Freedoms (@nfp_hotline), First Department, Prison Lawyer. OVD-Info advises via its bot but no longer refers people to lawyers inside Russia.

current as of September 25. More: First Department (foreign agent); OVD-Info: what to do if detained (extremist)

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• 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.
• A 'chat' or 'interview' without a criminal case is voluntary; 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.

current as of September 25. 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)

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Since June 2026 OVD-Info no longer arranges lawyers in Russia, so many people defend themselves. Under the Code of Administrative Offences your defender need not be an advocate; it can be someone you trust.
• 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. You may make an audio recording of the hearing without permission (art. 24.3 CAO).
• 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. RosShtraf helps pay fines in anti-war cases; Net Freedoms, First Department and Nora give advice.

current as of September 25. More: OVD-Info: defend yourself (extremist); OVD-Info: paying a fine (extremist); RosShtraf

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Ask to see the court order. In urgent cases a search can go ahead without one, with the court notified later (art. 165 pt 5 CPC).
• The law requires two attesting witnesses (arts 170, 182 CPC). You can ask for neighbours to be called; any refusal should go into the record.
• Call a lawyer straight away: you have the right to one, but the investigator does not have to wait for them to arrive.
• You do not have to give passwords (art. 51 of the Constitution). Encrypted devices that are switched off are harder to unlock.
• Human rights groups advise putting every violation into the comments on the record, asking for a full copy and watching that nothing is planted.

current as of September 25. More: First Department: what to do during a search (foreign agent); OVD-Info: my home is being searched (extremist)

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• With grounds, officers may search you (art. 27.7 CAO), but may seize a phone only with a written record. The law does not expressly require you to unlock it or give a passcode (pending legal review).
• Since 2025 border guards have been allowed to 'inspect' devices; the FSB says refusal can mean a fine or up to 15 days' detention, though practice is still unclear.
• There have been cases over phone contents: 'searching for extremist materials' (art. 13.53 CAO), Telegram 'stars' sent to channels designated as terrorist, donations to Ukrainian medics.
• Human rights groups usually suggest a separate 'clean' phone for travel, biometrics off, disappearing messages, and deleting subscriptions and donation screenshots. Bank and cloud records remain.

current as of September 25. More: Meduza: how to prepare your phone for the Russian border (undesirable)

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Now: if you are detained, demand an ambulance — the police must call one. Note the time, place, officers' descriptions and names, how and with what you were beaten, and any witnesses.
• Within 24 hours: have injuries recorded at an emergency clinic or hospital, with each one described in detail. A forensic medical examination (paid) is the most reliable. Photograph the marks over several days.
• Human rights groups advise filing the crime report with the Investigative Committee, not the police, in person — and asking for the registration receipt.
• Next: a refusal to open a case can be challenged in court or with senior Investigative Committee officials. If there is no remedy at home, a UN complaint is possible — see the note on international complaints.
• Where to turn: Committee Against Torture team, Public Verdict, First Department. Psychological support: First Line, Nora.

current as of September 25. More: First Department: what to do if security forces beat you (foreign agent); OVD-Info: I was beaten by the police (extremist)

Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.

• Administrative and criminal liability start at 16, and at 14 for some crimes. Minors are held separately from adults, and the police must inform parents immediately.
• A teenager can only be released to a legal guardian. If parents may not make it in time, give a trusted person a power of attorney in advance.
• A teacher or psychologist must attend the questioning of anyone under 16; a parent may take part from the first interrogation. Art. 51 of the Constitution applies to children too.
• Detention often leads to registration with the juvenile police unit, which can be lifted. Call to Conscience and First Department explain how to opt out of basic military training and propaganda classes.
• Where to turn: OVD-Info (bot), First Department; psychological support for the family — First Line.

current as of September 25. More: First Department: my child was detained (foreign agent); OVD-Info: detention of minors (extremist); Call to Conscience: opting out of military training and propaganda classes