Lawyers and legal aid

This page is for Turkish citizens who encounter a legal problem in Russia. Here you will find information about who a Russian lawyer is and how to verify them, the contract to be concluded with a lawyer, the rights to a lawyer and interpreter in criminal and administrative proceedings, opportunities for free legal aid, and the role of Turkish missions. This page provides general information and is not legal advice; if you have a specific problem, consult a lawyer.

• A lawyer is an independent legal adviser who has acquired lawyer status in accordance with the procedure established by law (63-FZ Art. 2(1)).
• Lawyers are members of a regional bar chamber (адвокатская палата). The lawyer’s identification document (удостоверение адвоката) states the registration number in the Unified State Register of Lawyers (Единый государственный реестр адвокатов) maintained by the Ministry of Justice (Arts. 14(1) and 15(2)).
• A lawyer may not be questioned as a witness about information learned while assisting you (professional secrecy, Art. 8).
• In certain matters, a lawyer submits a warrant (ордер) issued by the lawyer’s organization or bar chamber (Art. 6(2)).
• In administrative offence cases, a representative other than a lawyer may also represent you. This person’s authority is proven by a power of attorney (доверенность) (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 25.5).
• Data concerning lawyer registers are published in the Ministry of Justice’s open-data section.

• Legal services are based on a written contract between the lawyer and the client (Art. 25(1–2)).
• Mandatory elements of the contract (Art. 25(4)):
  • the lawyer’s name, the lawyer’s organization, and bar chamber
  • the subject matter
  • the fee and payment terms, or the fact that the assistance is provided free of charge
  • how and to what extent the lawyer’s expenses will be reimbursed
  • the scope of the lawyer’s liability
• A lawyer may conclude a contract with you regardless of where you live, irrespective of which bar chamber they belong to (Art. 25(3)).
• Checklist:
  1. Ask for the lawyer’s identification and registration number.
  2. Make the contract in writing and obtain a copy.
  3. Obtain a document for every payment.
  4. If you do not know Russian, have the contract translated before signing it.
  5. If you grant a power of attorney, limit its scope to that specific matter only.

• A suspect or accused person who does not know Russian (Criminal Procedure Code, Art. 18(2)):
  • may give explanations, testimony, requests, and complaints in their own language or a language they know
  • may examine the case file and speak in court in their own language
  • is entitled to a free interpreter
• Investigation and court documents that must be served on you are translated into your native language or a language you know (Art. 18(3)).
• If the suspect or accused does not know the language of the proceedings, the presence of a defence counsel (защитник) is mandatory (Art. 51(1), paragraph 4).
• If you wish, the investigator or court will provide defence counsel (Art. 50(2)). If your own chosen lawyer cannot arrive within 24 hours after detention or arrest, a lawyer will be appointed (Art. 50(4)).
• The fee of a lawyer appointed by the investigator or court is paid from the federal budget (Art. 50(5)).
• A detained suspect may make a telephone call in Russian within no later than 3 hours to notify relatives. The detention of a foreign suspect is reported to their embassy or consulate within the same period (Art. 96(1) and (3)).

• In an administrative offence case, you may receive assistance from a lawyer or another legal representative (Code of Administrative Offences, Art. 25.5).
• If you do not know Russian, you may give explanations in your own language and request an interpreter (Art. 24.2).
• You may use a lawyer and interpreter from the moment you are detained by the police (3-FZ, Art. 14(5)).
• The deadline for appealing an administrative decision is 10 days; the deadline for bringing a claim against migration authority decisions is 3 months (see R10.2).

• General rule of the law: free legal aid is provided to foreigners in the cases and under the procedure stipulated by federal laws and Russia’s international treaties (324-FZ, Art. 2(2)).
• Those eligible for the state free legal aid system include applicants for compulsory migrant or refugee status, persons granted such status, and persons granted temporary asylum; the aid covers matters related to these statuses (Art. 20(1), paragraph 8.3).
• In criminal cases, the state pays the fee of a lawyer appointed by the investigator or court (see above).
• High Commissioner for Human Rights in the Russian Federation (Уполномоченный по правам человека в Российской Федерации): receives complaints concerning violations of rights. The Commissioner’s staff also provide legal consultations according to the monthly schedule published on the website.
  • Address: 19 Smolensky Boulevard, Block 2, 119121 Moscow
  • Telephone: +7 800 707-56-67 (within Russia)
  • Reception hours: Monday–Thursday 09:00–17:00, Friday and days before public holidays 09:00–15:00
  • Online application: through the Commissioner’s federal information system
• Prosecutor’s Office (прокуратура): you may submit a written complaint about actions you consider unlawful through the online reception page of the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia.

• Foreign lawyers may provide assistance in Russia only regarding the law of their own countries. For this purpose, they must be registered in the special register of the Russian Ministry of Justice (63-FZ, Art. 2(5–6)). This register is published in the Ministry of Justice’s open-data section.
• If, while in Russia, you need to grant a power of attorney for a case or matter in Türkiye, see O1.3 for notarial procedures and apostille at a mission of the Republic of Türkiye.
• Legal Consultancy of the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Moscow
  • Address: 12 7th Rostovski Pereulok, 115127 Moscow
  • Telephone: +7 495 994 48 08 (extension 1132)
• What the consulate can and cannot do (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye):
  • may provide contact details of local lawyers and sworn interpreters and recommend a suitable lawyer
  • brings your complaints concerning judicial proceedings to the attention of local authorities
  • cannot hire a lawyer or follow up a case on your behalf; it has no budget to cover lawyer and litigation expenses
• According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, in many countries courts reject requests for information from missions that are not parties to the case. Therefore, you may need to hire a lawyer to defend your rights.

• Assuming that everyone who introduces themselves as a “lawyer” or “legal professional” is a lawyer. Ask for the lawyer’s identification and registration number.
• Making a payment without a written contract and receipt.
• Granting a power of attorney with excessively broad authority.
• Missing the 10-day appeal deadline while looking for a lawyer.
• Signing a statement or report in Russian that you do not understand without requesting an interpreter.
• Expecting the consulate to hire a lawyer or cover the expenses.

• Can I request a lawyer while detained? Yes. You may use a lawyer and interpreter from the moment of detention.
• Can I get a free lawyer? In a criminal investigation, the state pays the fee of a lawyer appointed by the investigator or court. In other matters, free legal aid for foreigners is limited to the cases provided for in laws and international treaties.
• I do not know Russian. Do I have to pay the interpreter’s fee? In criminal cases, suspects and accused persons are entitled to a free interpreter.
• Will the consulate hire a lawyer for me? No. It may provide contact details for lawyers and interpreters and recommend a lawyer.
• Can my lawyer in Türkiye represent me in Russia? Foreign lawyers may provide assistance in Russia only regarding the law of their own countries and must be registered in the special register of the Russian Ministry of Justice. Work with a Russian lawyer for matters before Russian courts.
• Where can I complain about a violation of rights? You may apply to the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia and the prosecutor’s office; also notify the mission of the Republic of Türkiye.

• Federal Law 63-FZ: legal practice (full text)
• Criminal Procedure Code (full text)
• Federal Law 324-FZ Art. 20: persons eligible for free legal aid
• Russian Ministry of Justice – Open data (registers of lawyers and foreign lawyers)
• High Commissioner for Human Rights in Russia – Application
• Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia – Online reception
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye – Consular guide