Police came to the family / a relative disappeared after a search

• Now: ask through the door for ID, which agency they're from and why they've come, and call a lawyer. Art. 51 of the Constitution lets you refuse to testify against yourself, your spouse and close relatives.
• You can decline a 'chat' or an informal interview: it isn't an interrogation. Interrogations require a formal summons; human rights groups advise asking for it in writing and going with a lawyer.
• If a relative was taken after a search: they may be at a police station (up to 48 hours), a temporary holding facility, then in SIZO by court order. Check district court websites, call duty desks, bring in a lawyer and the prison monitoring commission (ONK).
• If you can't find them: send written inquiries to holding facilities and SIZOs in the region and neighbouring ones via FSIN-pismo or Zonatelecom. The case may be run from another city, such as Moscow.
• Shared chats: human rights groups advise leaving sensitive group chats and not keeping other people's devices or papers at home. Whether to delete specific messages: ask a lawyer.

current as of 25 September 2026. More: First Department: police at the door (guide for relatives) (foreign agent); First Department: a relative disappeared after a search (foreign agent); First Department: what to do about shared chats (foreign agent)