Guidance

Arrested or detained in Russia

Updated 18 April 2024

Chapter 1: Key Points

Overview

If you are a British national, and are arrested or detained in Russia, consular staff will do what they can to help you. However, we cannot interfere with the local justice system, get you out of jail, or pay for services such as a lawyer. Information about who we can help, including the circumstances in which we can assist dual nationals, is available at: Support for British nationals abroad

This information pack aims to give you, and your family and friends, information about the local system in Russia and who can help. Consular staff can provide a printed copy to those in prison or in custody. We welcome feedback to help us improve the information we can provide to others.

Contacting us

If you are arrested or detained in Russia:

• the authorities should ask whether you want them to contact British Embassy Moscow or British Consulate General Ekaterinburg (and must do so if you want them to)

• if they do not ask, you can make the request yourself. You should do this if you are charged with a serious offence or need any kind of assistance

• your friends or family can also contact British Embassy Moscow, British Consulate General Ekaterinburg or the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London on +44 (0)20 7008 5000

By Russian law, the authorities must notify British Embassy Moscow or British Consulate General Ekaterinburg within 12 hours of your arrest, even if you do not want anyone to know that you have been arrested.

Dual UK-Russian nationality is not recognised in Russia. If you also hold a Russian passport, Russian authorities will treat you as a Russian national and are unlikely to grant us consular access to you.

Who we are

Consular staff work in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in the UK, and in British embassies, high commissions and consulates overseas.

British Embassy Moscow
Luhansky People’s Republic Square, Build.1
121099 Moscow
Telephone +7 495 956 7200 (Option 1 for English, then Option 2 for Consular)

Online contact form

British Consulate General Ekaterinburg
15a, Gogol Street
620075
Ekaterinburg
Tel.: +7 495 956 7200 (Option 1 for English, then Option 2 for Consular)

Online contact form

You can also contact us by phone, 24 hours a day for help or advice from anywhere in the world by calling the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 0207 008 1500.

What we can do

The FCDO can offer you impartial and non-judgemental help. When we are notified of your arrest or detention, we will aim to contact you as soon as possible, so that we can assess how we can help you. We then aim to provide assistance according to your individual circumstances and local conditions. Our priority is to assist those British nationals overseas that need our help the most.

Russian authorities may take a few days to notify the Embassy or the Consulate of your arrest. Once we are notified, we aim to contact you as soon as possible.

We can also:

• provide a list of local English-speaking lawyers and interpreters. See also Chapter 4: Additional Information for contact details of Russian human rights NGOs

• provide general information about Russia, detention conditions, and the local legal system

• provide general information about the local prison or remand system, including visiting arrangements, mail and censorship, privileges, and welfare services

• keep in regular contact with you, either by visiting or by telephone or letter. The frequency of contact will depend on local conditions and your personal circumstances

• tell the police or prison doctor, with your permission, about any medical or dental problems including medication

• put you, or your family, in touch with a prisoners’ welfare charity called Prisoners Abroad

• in some circumstances, we may be able to help take up complaints with the police or prison authorities about ill treatment, personal safety, or discrimination, if you are not treated in line with internationally recognised standards

• help to transfer money to you from your friends or family. In places where phone or postal services are not available, we can also pass on messages and deliver letters to the prison (but generally we cannot arrange for delivery directly to you)

• in some circumstances we may be able to help you apply for a transfer to a prison in the UK

What we cannot do

• get you out of prison or detention
• help you get special treatment because you are British
• offer legal advice, start legal proceedings or investigate a crime
• pay any costs because you have been arrested
• forward you packages sent by friends or family
• prevent authorities from deporting you after release  

First Steps

Informing family members

If you want us to, we can tell your family or friends that you have been detained and provide them with information about how to contact you. With your consent, we can also keep them updated on your wellbeing.

If you are not sure about informing your family, we can help you consider what the impact of not doing so might be. For example, it may cause them distress if they do not know where you are or cannot contact you. It can also be a disadvantage to you if you need someone to send you money or act on your behalf while you are detained.

Informing the UK police

If you are accused of certain serious offences, such as sexual assault or drugs trafficking, we are obliged to share information about your arrest with UK police. Information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer. There may be other circumstances when information about you may need to be shared with authorities in Russia.

Legal assistance: lawyers

We cannot give legal advice, start legal proceedings, or investigate a crime. However, we can provide information about the local legal system, including whether a legal aid scheme is available. We can also give you a list of local interpreters and a list of local English-speaking lawyers. See also Chapter 4: Additional information for contact details of local NGOs which may be able to provide free legal assistance. You should consider the benefits of local legal representation and discuss all the costs beforehand with the legal representative. We cannot pay your legal or interpretation costs in any circumstance. If you are unable to commission a defence lawyer, the Russian law entitles you to free legal representation by a state-appointed local lawyer.

Consular assistance: fair treatment

We cannot get you out of prison or detention or get you special treatment because you are British. If you are not treated in line with internationally accepted standards, we will consider whether to approach the local authorities. This may include if your trial does not follow internationally recognised standards or is unreasonably delayed compared to local cases.

Other organisations that can provide assistance

We can put you, or your family, in touch with Prisoners Abroad - a UK charity which supports British citizens detained overseas and their families.

Chapter 2: Detention conditions in Russia

Visits: friends and family

Who can visit and how to arrange visits

You should consult FCDO travel advice before you travel to Russia for the latest information on safety and security, entry requirements and travel warnings.

The Russian Criminal Procedure Code and the Ministry of Justice’s Order N110 of 04 July 2022 set out the rights of prisoners on remand and those serving custodial sentence.

If you are detained on remand, you can have up to 2 visits by family members or other persons each month, with each visit lasting up to 3 hours. Prior written permission from the authority in charge of the criminal case is required for each visit.

The details of the visitors need to be included in the permission. No more than 2 adults can visit at one time, and children may or may not be allowed to accompany them.

If you have been sentenced but your sentence has not yet begun, you need to request permission for a visit from the court which held the trial of your case. If you are serving your term, you need to request permission for a visit from the prison governor.

Sentenced prisoners are entitled to short (4 hours) and long (3 days on prison premises or 5 days outside of prison) visits.

The exact number of visits depends on the category of your sentence and the detention security regime. It may vary from 2 to 6 short visits and from 1 to 6 long visits a year.

Prisoners placed in a punishment block are not entitled to any visits by friends or family

The short visits are for both family and friends, but the long ones are for immediate family only. A longer visit cannot be arranged for any visitor who is not family, even if they had to travel from abroad. Lawyers have an unlimited number of visits of up to four hours each.

A prison staff member is normally present throughout a visit so they can observe but not hear the prisoner and the lawyer.

What to expect when you visit

If you are visiting a prisoner, you need to present your photo IDs (passports) upon arrival. You will be security checked. Electronic and potentially dangerous items, as well as cameras and video cameras, audio recorders and copiers are not allowed on prison premises. Visitors under the influence of alcohol or drugs and those not listed in the visit permission are not allowed in.

A visit may start late, or participants may be requested to keep it shorter. Prison staff may end the visit if you attempt to pass any forbidden items, food or substances or share any information on the criminal case.

Visits take place in a special meeting room. The visitors and the prisoner are normally separated by a glass partition, and they can clearly see and hear each other. The conditions and equipment in meeting rooms may vary depending on the facility. A prison officer will observe during all visits and can hear the visitors and the prisoner.

Prison authorities may place further restrictions on visitation conditions in emergency situations, like an infectious disease epidemic.

What you can take on your visit

At a remand prison, a detainee is allowed to receive food and other items of total weight not exceeding 30 kg per month. You need to take all items to a designated reception room either before or after the visit, as you are not allowed to give them directly to the prisoner.

The list of acceptable and prohibited items is normally displayed in the reception room or on the central prison authority website and may vary depending on a facility. You will need to complete 3 copies of the inventory form and pass these together with your ID and the items for the prisoner to a prison staff member. Prison staff will check all items, and those not accepted will be returned to you.

The following items may be accepted: food, toiletries, clothing and footwear (except military uniform), writing supplies, books/magazines/newspapers in the Russian language. Prison staff will check all printed materials, those in a foreign language are unlikely to be allowed. Only medicine prescribed by the prison doctor can be accepted.

Visits: consular staff

The British Embassy Moscow consular staff normally visit a prisoner once every 6 months. The frequency of consular visits is based on a prisoner’s vulnerability. If the consular team becomes aware of any substantial deterioration of a prisoner’s health or wellbeing, gross mistreatment or human rights violation, a scheduled consular visit may be brought forward. Consular staff normally agree the schedule of their visits with a prisoner at their first contact.

Normally, a prisoner on remand can submit a request for an ad hoc consular visit to the authority in charge of their criminal case. A sentenced prisoner should submit the request to the prison authority. The authorities should communicate the request for a visit to us in good time. There is no need for a prisoner to submit a request for a scheduled visit, as we will do that.

Foreign prisoners on remand have a right to make phone calls to their consulate and family/friends. A prisoner can only make a call with prior written approval of the authority in charge of the case or the prison authority and at the prisoner’s own expense. The call is also subject to the technical capacity of the prison, and availability of an interpreter as the prison staff are required to monitor prisoners’ calls.

You can write to us at any time on matters that concern you at:

British Embassy Moscow: Consular section
Luhansky People’s Republic Square, Build.1
121099 Moscow

For a prisoner on remand, all incoming/outgoing mail is subject to censorship by the respective authority.

Prison authorities have to translate into Russian all mail in a language other than Russian. Russian law sets no limit on the time taken by the authority to translate the mail. This may lead to a substantial delay in the delivery of mail to/from a prisoner on remand.

Emergency trips outside of prison

You may be able to make an emergency trip outside of the prison if you are a sentenced prisoner (not on remand). It depends on the category of your sentence, your personal circumstances and the type of emergency (illness or death of a close relative, natural disaster affecting the prisoner’s family). You need to submit a written request for an emergency trip to the prison governor, who normally consider it within one day. If the governor allows the trip, you will need to cover the cost of the trip.

An emergency trip outside Russia is not possible.

Police custody and initial arrival at prison

Arriving at the police station: your basic rights

Russian police can detain you for up to 48 hours at a police station. You will not normally have access to a bed or a shower during this time. You should be immediately released following the end of the 48-hour period, unless there has been a court decision that orders further custody as a restriction measure.

The Russian Criminal Procedure Code and Russian Federal Law ‘On police’ FZ-3 of 07/02/2011 set out the rights of those detained by police.

You have the right for free legal representation and interpreting immediately.

You have the right to make one phone call within 3 hours from the moment of detention.

You can only make a call in Russian (you cannot speak English) with a police officer present. The call can be to a Russian number only.

Police are responsible for the completion of a report in Russian providing the details of your detention. The detaining police officer and the detainee should co-sign the report. You have the right not to sign the report if there are any concerns about its content. You should receive a copy of the report.

Normally, the investigator in charge will notify British Embassy Moscow or Consulate General Ekaterinburg within 12 hours of the time of detention. However, the prosecutor may waive this requirement at the investigator’s request.

Following the initial detention, a court, at the investigator’s request, may decide to put you on remand for up to 3 months. If this happens, you will be transferred from the police station to a remand prison.

The court may extend the initial period of remand at the investigator’s request for up to 3 months at a time. The total detention on remand cannot normally exceed 18 months. After that, you should appear before the judge or be released.

At a remand prison, you are provided with access to food, water, sanitation facilities and basic medical services, although these may not meet UK standards. The prison staff will complete an inventory of your belongings, including money and valuable items, and keep it on file.

You should be provided with a bed, bedding and a weekly change of bed linen, towel, utensils and cutlery, basic toiletries, and receive 3 hot meals a day. Man can shower once a week, and women - twice a week.

Each month you can receive an unlimited number of posted parcels and hand-delivered parcels up to 30 kg. You can send and receive unlimited mail by post. You can make phone calls. The detailed information on parcels, mail and phone calls is provided at Section: Prison: conditions and daily life

You can see a prison doctor upon request, but the medical services available at remand prisons are basic.

You can receive money into your prison account to cover the cost of your phone calls or purchase basic items at a prison shop. Cash cannot be given to or otherwise made available to you.

Normally, you are entitled to one walk a day outdoors, on the prison premises, for at least one hour.

You can have visits from family and friends. The details on visitation procedure are provided at Section: Prison: conditions and daily life of this document.

You can make a verbal or written proposal, a statement or a complaint to the prison administration, including about any breach of your rights. Prison staff should register any verbal appeal in the journal, and you should sign it. The prison administration should respond to a verbal appeal within 5 days, and to a written appeal – within 10 days.

You have a right to appeal to external bodies, including the state prosecution, the court, and human rights ombudsmen. The prison authority should forward the appeal to the addressees uncensored. The appeals to non-government organisations, other state bodies and the detainee’s legal representative should be forwarded to the addressees within 3 days. You will need to cover the respective postal charges, unless you have no credit on your prison account, in which case the prison will cover the postal charges.

Appearing at court

In Russia, a court is the only authority, which has a legal right to find someone guilty of a crime and sentence them. Once the investigation into the alleged crime is complete, the investigating authority forwards the case to the state prosecutor who then forwards the case to court. The court will schedule a hearing or a trial.

Russians court follows an adversarial procedure. The parties to court proceedings are:

• the prosecution (a state prosecutor and an investigator)
• the defence (a suspect and their defence lawyer)
• third parties (witnesses, experts)

In a trial, Russian courts require the prosecution and defence to present evidence . The suspect has a right to refuse the services of a defence lawyer appointed by the state and hire a lawyer of their choice, at their own expense. The suspect also has the right to refuse any legal representation.

Russian courts proceedings are conducted in the Russian language. Lawyers in Russia (provided by the state or privately hired) are not required to speak English.

If you have been charged with a crime, you have the right to make a statement at the trial, file a complaint, testify, speak at the trial and familiarise yourself with your case file materials. If you do not have a good command of the Russian language, you have a right to speak in your own language and use the services of an interpreter provided and paid for by the state. Any court proceeding with participation of a non-Russian speaking party includes an interpreter appointed by the court.

Read more about the Russian judicial system in Chapter 3.

Initial arrival at the prison

Once your prison sentence starts, you and your personal file and belongings will leave the remand prison within 10 days to be transferred to a camp or a prison. The time you spend in transit does not count toward your sentence time. Each day you spent in remand prison counts toward your sentence time, as equivalent to 1.5 days.

During the transfer process you will not be able to contact your friends, your family or the Embassy.

The prison authority will notify British Embassy Moscow when you arrive.

When you arrive at the prison, you will be searched and then examined by a medical specialist. Prison staff make an inventory of all your belongings and put it on file. Prison authorities will retain all the items that you are not allowed to keep, including money, other valuables and any belongings in excess of 50 kg. You will not have any access to these until the time of your release.

You will be taken to a shower, given a set of clean clothing and placed in a holding cell for 15 days for infection control purposes. Prison authorities may search you, your belongings and your cell at any point.

You have the right to make phone calls up to 15 minutes long, but only at your own expense. For every call, you need to submit a prior written request to the prison authority specifying the number and other details of the person you want to call and the language of the call. Once the permission is granted, you can make a call.

Depending on the specific prison’s technical capacity, the calls may or may not be limited to numbers within Russia. The prison authority may monitor the calls. You can normally call British Embassy Moscow or British Consulate General Ekaterinburg.

The prison authority should provide you with a uniform for inmates and basic toiletries. You are not allowed to use your own clothing.

In Russian prisons, emergency medical services are available to prisoners 24 hours a day. If you have a chronic health condition requiring medication, you need to inform the prison doctor about this upon arrival at the prison. You cannot bring or use your own medicine. The prison normally provides medicine if it is available, but it may be locally manufactured. Your family or friends may also provide medicine but only with the prior approval of the prison doctor. The medicine provided by external parties can only be taken under the direct observation of a prison health specialist.

Prison: conditions and daily life

The penal system in Russia is run by the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) which is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. The Russian Criminal Procedure Code and the Russian Ministry of Justice’s Order N 110 of 4 July 2022 ‘On setting out Internal regulations for remand facilities and penal institutions’ set out the prison conditions and prisoners’ rights and responsibilities.

Prisoners serve their sentences in the following facilities:

• penal camps (исправительная колония), including penal settlements (колония-поселение), general camps (колония общего режима), high-security camps (колония строгого режима) and special camps (колония особого режима)

• prisons (тюрьма)

• correctional camps (воспитательная колония)

• medical penal facilities (лечебные исправительные учреждения)

Depending on one’s sentence and circumstances, 3 imprisonment regimes may apply in each type of a penal facility:

• standard

• flexible

• strict (enhanced security and restricted rights)

The judge’s verdict sets the type of penal institution where a convicted person is to serve their sentence. The FSIN decides which penal facility a prisoner will be sent to.

The conditions in penitentiary institutions are impacted by the poor state of the infrastructure mostly built before 1970 and remain among the worst in Europe.

Corruption in Russian prisons is widespread. Detention conditions can depend on one’s financial status and connections in the criminal world.

There is a system for public monitoring of prison conditions in Russia. It was introduced in 2008 based on the UK model of Independent Monitoring Boards.

Accommodation

In Russia, separate prison facilities are used for sentenced prisoners (camps and prisons) and those on remand (pre-trial detention centres).

In pre-trial detention centres, a cell normally accommodates one or several persons.

In penal camps, prisoners are accommodated in barracks with the capacity of 20 beds or more. They are expected to work until they reach retirement age. Prisoners serving their sentences in penal settlements are also accommodated in barracks but are allowed to move freely within the confines of the settlement during the day and may live with their families on the territory of the settlement.

There are 8 prisons in Russia where prisoners are confined to cells. These accommodate prisoners convicted for most serious crimes, those in breach of their ongoing sentence regime or sentenced for life and repeat offenders.

Overcrowding of prisons in Russia is gradually becoming less of a problem. Each prisoner is provided with a separate bed, a mattress, a pillow, and a blanket. Bedding is usually changed on a weekly basis.

There are normally washbasins, electricity and running cold water in the cells and barracks. Cells and barracks may or may not have hot water, and most of them have natural light. Cells and barracks are normally heated from October until May.

Food and diet

Normally you are entitled to 3 hot meals a day. The diet includes carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It is based on the calorific intake sufficient to sustain human health but tends to be bland and lacking fresh vegetables and fruits or dairy products. Those with severe health issues or disabilities, adolescents and pregnant women are entitled to a more nutritious diet.

The prison diet does not cater to specific religious, or lifestyle needs. You can supplement your diet by buying food from a prison shop with the money from your private prison account. However, there is a limit to the amount of money you can spent each month, depending on your detention regime.

Your family or friends can also bring or send food, although there are multiple restrictions on what they can or cannot bring, and they vary depending on a specific facility. There is also a limit to the number and weight of parcels which you are entitled to, depending on your detention regime.

In Russian prisons, tap water is normally used for drinking, but the quality of water may vary depending on the geographic region.

Hygiene

Barracks or cells normally have running cold water but may or may not have hot water. There is usually a schedule to take hot showers at a prison facility. Men can take a shower at least twice a week, women - three times a week. The shower facilities are communal. Your underwear and bedding should be changed weekly.

Conditions at shower stalls and toilets may vary depending on the specific facility and may be substandard at the older facilities.

The prison administration should provide basic toiletries, including soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, toilet paper, shaving razors for men and hygienic supplies for women. Basic toiletries are normally available at prison shops.

Work and study

Work is compulsory for prisoners, and the type and place of work available is determined by the prison administration. Due consideration should be given to your psychical capacity, age, and health conditions. Work can only be carried out on prison premises.

You are paid for your work, with your pay transferred to your personal prison account. The amount of pay may vary depending on the type and amount of work done. Your living costs are deducted from your monthly pay. Regardless of the actual cost, a minimum of 25% pay should be transferred to your account.

Working hours are defined in accordance with the Russian labour law and are normally 6 to 8 hours per day with a break for a hot meal, 5 or 6 days a week. The exact working schedule is set by the prison administration. Working prisoners are entitled to annual leave from work of 12 working days.

Prisoners usually work at the manufacturing facilities located on the prison premises. These usually include manufacturing of clothes or spare parts for machinery, wood processing or working in a prison kitchen.

The prison administration may request you to work for free repairing and renovating prison premises.

Russian prisons normally offer vocational training courses with a qualification. Prison administrations can also support you to enrol in postal studies, where possible. You must speak Russian to get enrolled in either. Enrolling in distance learning courses with a foreign institution or in a foreign language normally is not allowed.

Contact and languages

In most camps, contact with other inmates is not restricted, while it may be restricted in prisons or special camps. Contact with other inmates may also be restricted if you are subjected to disciplinary actions due to a breach of prison regulations. You may be put in solitary confinement for some time.

You may or may not be put in a barrack or cell with other English–speaking inmates. This depends on the goodwill of the prison administration and availability of space.

Prison guards are not required to speak a foreign language, including English. Some of them may have very basic English-language skills obtained as part of their secondary school education.

Prisons in Russia do not offer language classes for non-Russian speaking inmates.

Access to mobile phones is prohibited in Russian prisons. Internet access is also not available. You can make phone calls at your own expense using designated prison landlines. These may or may not allow international calls depending on the prison’s technical capacity.

You can use writing supplies purchased at your own expense or brought by family or friends. You can send and receive letters by post. All incoming and outgoing correspondence is subject to censorship.

Prisons normally have libraries, but the assortment of books may be limited, and it may not include books in foreign languages.

In Russia, you can only access English-language books by ordering them from a licenced local seller – to be posted to you in prison. Books will be censored by the prison authority before being handed over.

No books depicting crimes, violence, political issues, inciting hatred or conflicts, or including erotic or pornographic material are allowed on the prison premises.

You can watch television which is provided by the prison administration and shared by inmates. You cannot have your own TV or radio sets.

If you get enrolled in studies, demonstrate good results at work and take part in social activities in the prison, the prison authorities will reflect this positively on your record.

Exercise

In camps, you are permitted to go outdoors within the premises and move around during the day: to and from work - in a group accompanied by camp guards, or unaccompanied during your free time. You are not allowed to leave your barracks at night.

Movement is restricted for prisoners in special camps and prisons, and for those serving time under strict regime or subjected to disciplinary actions. Prisoners under strict regime are allowed an hour-long walk at a specially designated outdoor area. Depending on their type and infrastructure, prisons may have sport facilities available to prisoners and organise regular group exercises for them.

Climate

Russia is a vast country occupying many climatic zones, and the weather conditions vary a great deal across Russia. Climate in central Russia is similar to the UK in the summer and several degrees colder in winter. The north of Russia is known for its harsh winters, with the temperature dropping to -30 C or lower. For the winter, you should be provided with a set of warm clothing, which you can supplement with your own warm underwear.

Religion

You are free to take part in religious services of your choice or refrain from any religious activities. You are allowed to have religious books and items and conduct religious ceremonies.

You have a right for an unrestricted number of up to 2 hour individual meetings with a clergyman of your choice. Normally, a prison member of staff is present at such meetings. If requested by you and agreed by the clergyman, the meeting can be held so prison staff could observe but not listen. Prison administration allows onto prison premises only the representatives from the officially registered religions.

In Russia, there are no religious ministers among prison staff.

Rules and regulations (including drugs)

Upon arrival in a penal facility, you are placed in a quarantine ward for up to 15 days. While there, you are given a summary of prison rules and regulations, your own rights and responsibilities, daily schedule, fire safety instructions as well as possible sanctions for breaching any of these. You should also be informed of your right to request a transfer to your home country. You have to sign to say you have read all the above.

Possible punishment for breaching the prison regulations include a verbal reprimand, a fine, a transfer to solitary confinement for up to 15 days. Repeat offenders may be transferred from barracks to cells for up to one year, or to solitary confinement for up to 6 months. Such punishment is also accompanied by the temporary restriction of access to phone calls, visits, shopping in the prison store, receipt of parcels, and outdoor walks.

According to Russian law, the most serious breaches of prison regulations include:

• use of psychoactive substances
• threats or disobedience to prison staff
• manufacturing of prohibited items
• avoiding forced treatment
• staging or participating in riots
• homosexual relations
• refusal to work

Communities of inmates in Russian prisons frequently have a vertical hierarchy, with a leader inmate, and are self-governed. They often have their own code of honour, rules and regulations established or forced upon the inmates.

You can earn privileges for good behaviour. These include verbal or written acknowledgements, and up to 4 additional visits and parcels a year. If you were subjected to earlier disciplinary action, you may also have the privileges withdrawn.

Prisoners convicted of drug-related crimes make up a majority of inmates in Russian prison. Despite the strict ban, drugs enter Russian prisons through corrupt prison personnel or smuggling. Prisoners sharing needles means that there is a high incidence of HIV and hepatitis among prisoners.

Drug replacement therapy is not available in Russian prisons. While prisoners are routinely tested for HIV and hepatitis, testing for drugs may or may not be available.

If you have a concern over your safety or wellbeing, you have a right to raise this with the prison authority verbally or in writing, your lawyer during a meeting and British Embassy Moscow or British Consulate General Ekaterinburg by phone, post or during a consular visit. In response to this the prison administration may transfer you to a safe place within their prison, or to a different penal facility. 

Prison: access to help and services

Receiving money

There are 2 ways you may be able to receive financial assistance while in prison:

• private funds: deposited by your family or friends
• Prisoners Abroad: depending on where you are detained, if your family cannot support you financially, Prisoners Abroad may be able to send you a small grant every quarter for essentials (enough for one hot meal a day)

The UK government does not provide financial assistance to prisoners.

Private funds

While the FCDO does not provide financial assistance to prisoners, we may be able, within certain limits, to send you money from your family or friends. Please note that you cannot have cash sent to you in the post.

The FCDO operates a ‘Prison Comfort’ system for money transfers to prisoners. Ask your family or friends to get in touch with the FCDO to arrange this.

We cannot receive payment by credit or debit card, or by cash.

Prisoners Abroad

Prisoners Abroad may be able to assist you with funding for prison essentials and some medical care if you are not receiving regular funding from other sources. British national prisoners in Russia may be eligible for the Craig Feehan Fund and the Medical Fund, if they do not receive financial support from their family or friends. See Chapter 4 for more details.

Medical and dental treatment

While you are detained, Russia is responsible for ensuring your basic medical needs are met. According to Russian law, all prisoners are entitled to free medical services from the state providers.

Each prison has doctors and nurses on staff. All prisoners are subject to periodic blood/urine lab tests and chest X-ray tests as well as assessments by a GP.

Emergency medical services are accessible 24 hours a day. If you have a medical emergency, you should call the guard for assistance. You can request a routine appointment with a prison healthcare specialist by making a record in a medical appointment journal normally held by the head of your ward.

If you require a test, or a specialist assessment or treatment which cannot be carried out on the prison premises, you will be transferred to the nearest external state hospital for prisoners.

Most healthcare providers do not speak English and the quality of services and medicines may be below UK standards.

Medical services provided to prisoners include psychiatric and dental services. Prescribed medication is normally provided by the prison, but it is most likely to be locally manufactured. Family or friends can bring or send prescribed medicine to you in prison, but it can only be taken by you under the direct observation of the prison medical personnel. You may receive supplementary preventive medical services and treatment at you own expense, through a written request to the prison administration.

You can also order glasses at your own expense or ask your family or friends to send them to you. With your permission, we can make sure that any medical or dental problems you might have, are brought to the attention of the prison doctor. We can also liaise with your GP in the UK if the prison doctor requests your previous medical records, and this is in your vital interests.

Letters and parcels

You can receive hand-delivered and posted parcels. The number of permitted parcels and their cumulative weight a year depends on the type of your prison facility and your detention regime. The number of parcels varies from 12 parcels (up to 20 kg) and 12 small, posted packages (up to 5 kg) for prisoners under flexible regime in general camps to 1 parcel and 1 small package for those under strict regime in special camps.

Prescribed medicine and medical supplies can also be sent or hand-delivered and are not counted towards the above allocations.

You may order books to be delivered by the local licenced sellers. These will not be counted towards the above allocations.

Prison staff will inspect all parcels before they are handed over to you.

You can send and receive an unlimited number of postcards, letters, and telegrams at your own expense.

All incoming and outgoing mail is subject to prison censorship. The prison authorities are responsible for translation and censorship of letters, cards and telegrams in a foreign language. Normally they should release them to their recipient within 7 working days.

You can buy envelopes, cards and stamps at the prison shop or have them delivered by family or friends. British Embassy Moscow and British Consulate General Ekaterinburg may be able to accept mail and parcels on behalf of vulnerable prisoners, depending on their location and accessibility.

There are many restrictions as to what can be sent or hand-delivered to a prison. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to, drugs, alcohol and any toiletries containing it, weapons, drones, poisonous and radioactive substances, cash and other valuable items, mobile phones and other electronic devices, maps, photo and video cameras, pornographic and extremist materials, uncooked food. Any item which may potentially cause harm to a prisoner’s health, including self-inflicted harm, are forbidden (scarfs, shoelaces, notebooks bound by spiralled wire, berries and fruit which can be fermented).

Russian Post is not always reliable, and items posted from outside Russia may not reach the recipient. Russia is a part of the international postal tracking system, and parcels can be tracked using its ID numbers.

When sending a letter or a parcel to you in prison in Russia, your family and friends need to make sure that the full address and name of the prison as well as your name and the date of birth are indicated, alongside the sender’s full name and address. Prisoners in Russia are not assigned individual numbers and are identified by their full name and date of birth.

British Embassy Moscow can assist with obtaining and verifying postal details for a British prisoner in Russia.

Telephone calls

You can normally make both domestic and international phone calls. However, if you have been subjected to a disciplinary action or are serving your sentence under the strict regime, you may be granted permission for a phone call only in exceptional circumstances.

Normally the number of calls per prisoner is not limited, but the administration of prisons with insufficient phone line capacity may reduce the number of calls to 6 a year.

You have to register the numbers you wish to call with the prison administration. Normally, calls to the registered numbers do not require any prior authorisation. The duration of each call cannot exceed 15 minutes. International calls may not be possible due to the prison’s infrastructure limitations.

Calls can only be made through the prison land line and may be monitored by prison staff. The cost of calls can be charged to your personal account at the prison or covered out of your account or calling card with one of the several service providers:

• ZonaTelecom
• FSINet
• Rodnaya Sviyaz
• Rostelecom. The account can be topped up or a calling card purchased by family/friends using their website.

Mobile phones are not allowed in Russian prisons. If you are found with a mobile phone, you will face disciplinary action.

Making a complaint about mistreatment

Under Russian and international law, you have a right to keep in touch with your Embassy or Consulate and report any issues to them. If you have been mistreated, please inform consular staff as soon as it is safe for you to do so. We will then do our best to visit you, check on your welfare, discuss the allegations, and inform you of any local complaint procedures and supportive organisations that you may wish to consider. With your permission, and where appropriate, we will consider approaching the local authorities if you have not been treated in line with the internationally accepted standards. If you have been mistreated, please try to see a doctor, obtain a medical report and, if possible, photos of the injuries you received.

According to Russian law, you have the right to make complaints about your imprisonment conditions or a mistreatment to the prison administration verbally or in writing and request an appointment with a member of the prison administration, a regional or federal FSIN representative or a prosecutor.

You have the right to make a written complaint in your native language and receive a written response translated into your native language.

Prison staff record complaints made to the prison administration, including through a personal appointment, in the logbook. The prison administration should respond to verbal complaints within one working day. The prison chancery should register a written complaint within 3 days, and hand over a written response to you within 3 working days after it has been issued.

You have the right to make a written complaint to the external governmental bodies including:

• prison monitoring boards
• ombudsmen
• courts
• prosecutors
• the Russian President

Such complaints are exempt from censorship by prison administration and should be posted within one working day. If you have no funds in your prison account, the prison administration should post the complaint at the prison’s expense.

Chapter 3: The Russian judicial system

Overview

Unlike the UK, which is a common law country, the Russian Federation has a civil law system. It has many differences from the UK system. Russian law includes both codified laws (for example, the Civil Code and the Criminal Code) and other laws which must be consistent with the relevant codes.

International law is recognised as part of the Russian legal system, but Russian domestic legislation may override provisions of international law.

The Russian court structure includes federal and regional courts, both headed by the Supreme Court. Supreme Court judgments are binding on the lower courts.

The Constitutional Court deals with disputes concerning constitutionality of certain legal acts and is a separate judicial body in the Russian court system. Judgments by the Constitutional Court that contain interpretations of the law bind all courts, legal entities and individuals.

An individual can appeal to the ombudsman in case of infringement of their rights.

An independent judiciary is one of the key constitutional principles of the Russian legal system. However, Russian and international media and human rights groups make frequent reports of corruption and judiciary acting on the orders of government or law enforcement agencies, especially in politically motivated cases.

A person accused of a crime may enter a pre-trial plea to disclose information or compensate losses or damages to the affected person in hope of a more lenient punishment.

Court cases are open to the general public except for those involving state secrets, private matters (adoption of a child, for example.) or major concerns over a party’s security. A trial may also be closed to the public following a party’s petition.

The key parties to civil proceedings are the claimant and the defendant. In criminal proceedings, the key parties are the prosecutor and the accused.

The persons assisting in the delivery of justice include witnesses, experts, interpreters, among other. Juries are used in criminal cases, except for those of terrorism and related crimes, mass unrest, state treason, espionage, and armed rebellion. The jury is comprised of 12 people. Juries are not used in civil cases.

As set by the Russian Constitution, every person accused of committing a crime is innocent until proven guilty. In criminal cases, the accused can plead guilty or not guilty. In the UK a defendant who pleads guilty is automatically convicted and the remainder of the trial is used to determine the sentence. In Russia, a confession by the defendant is treated as evidence.

In civil cases, courts can hand down a verdict in favour of the claimant or the defendant. These include recognition of a right, specific performance of an obligation, compensation for losses.

There are 2 possible verdicts in criminal cases: guilty and not guilty.

Capital punishment is currently not applied in Russia due to a moratorium.

The main stages of a prisoner’s case are:

• Investigation into the criminal case by an investigating authority to gather evidence and establish the circumstances of a crime. Russian law sets no fixed limit for the duration of investigation and defines it as ‘reasonable’

During the investigation, the suspects or accused may be subjected to restriction measures: an undertaking not to leave, a house arrest or incarceration. Prisoners on remand are placed in remand prisons (pre-trial detention centres) where they remain until the court has delivered a verdict. The length of incarceration on remand normally does not exceed 18 months.

A criminal case may be closed before it comes to court, if both parties have arrived at an amicable solution, or the accused has repaired the damages to the affected party.

Then:

• once the investigation has been completed, the investigating authority will forward the case to the state prosecutor

• the prosecutor has 10 days to review the case and find it suitable for consideration by the court or return it to the investigating authority for further action

• if the accused has been incarcerated, the court should schedule a preliminary hearing of the case or a trial within 14 days. The court will deliver a verdict and determine a possible punishment. Russian law sets no time limit for completion of court proceedings

• upon delivery of a verdict, the accused has 10 days to appeal the verdict at the appeal court, otherwise it comes in full force

The FCDO cannot interfere with the judicial system. We cannot ask for your case to be judged more quickly just because you are British or ask the authorities to waive any penalties.

What should happen after you are arrested

Details on detainee’s rights upon arrest and subsequent developments are available at Section: Police custody and initial arrival at prison.

If you have any questions on the legal aspects of your arrest, contact your lawyer. See our list of local English-speaking lawyers

How long you can be remanded in custody

Normally, you can be remanded in custody for an initial period of up to 3 months. Upon request of the investigator assigned to the criminal case, court may extend this for another 1 to 3 months. There can be further extensions, but the total time on remand should not normally exceed 18 months. If you are then sentenced to imprisonment, each day you spent in a remand prison until the court verdict sentencing you has come into full force counts toward your prison sentence as a day and a half. The same applies to the time you spent during transportation from a remand prison to a penal camp.

Prisoners on remand and sentenced prisoners: differences

Prisoners on remand are normally kept separately from convicted. The rights of prisoners in remand prisons, those in penal camps and prisons and conditions of imprisonment are detailed in Section: Police custody and initial arrival at prison.

After you are charged

As set out by the Russian Criminal Procedure Code, when sufficient evidence of your complicity in a crime has been gathered through a preliminary investigation, the investigator can bring charges against you. This is normally documented by a criminal indictment providing all the details of a suspect, the time, the place, and other circumstances of the alleged crime, and referencing the relevant articles of Russian law.

The prison administration hands over a copy of the criminal indictment to you within 3 days of its completion, in the presence of your defence lawyer, if you have one. A criminal indictment is normally completed in the Russian language, and you may need an interpreter to explain it to you.

The rights of the indicted are set out in the Russian Criminal Procedure Code. The investigator should read these rights to you at the first interrogation.

These include, but are not limited to:

• receiving a copy of the above statement
• refraining from making a statement in order not to incriminate yourself
• providing evidence, filing motions and objections, making statements in your native language
• accessing services of a free interpreter
• hiring a lawyer or commissioning a state-appointed free one
• having an unlimited number of visits by your lawyer in confidence
• familiarising yourself with the case materials of the preliminary investigation

If you believe the charges are false, you now need to work with your lawyer to gather proof of your innocence to be presented during court trial.

You may or may not enter a plea of guilty or not guilty at this stage, but this will be treated as a piece of evidence and cannot be used as a reason for terminating the subsequent legal proceedings – investigation and court trial.

Bail

You can make bail (залог) during the investigation into a criminal case or when the case comes to court. In Russia, it is the court that can approve or reject bail. You can use funds, stock and bonds, real estate, valuables and other assets to make bail. The court sets the amount and type of bail in relation to your financial situation, the nature of the crime, the likelihood of you leaving Russia, amongst others.

The minimum bail is 50,000 RUR for minor offences, and 500,000 RUR for major offences. You, or a third person who is not a party to the criminal proceedings, may pay bail.

Bail funds need to be deposited into a court’s or investigating authority’s bank account. The authority then issues a formal statement confirming the receipt of bail.

Bail needs to be paid within 72 hours after it has been granted by a court.

A court may lay down certain bail conditions, including a prohibition to drive a vehicle, enter or leave certain areas or meet certain people, use Internet, post or receive mail.

British Embassy Moscow can assist you with contacting friends and family who may be willing to help with raising bail.

If you fail to adhere to your bail conditions, the assets and funds provided as bail will be transferred as income to the state budget by a separate court decision. If the case is then closed by the court, the bail is returned to the bail-maker.

The possibility of bail depends on the nature and severity of the crime. Release on bail is not a common practice in Russia, especially in cases involving foreign nationals.

The FCDO cannot transfer bail funds.

Trial and legal assistance

Legal assistance: lawyers and legal aid

You have the right to either

• a state-provided free lawyer

• hire your own lawyer

• refuse legal representation

The right to free legal representation is unconditional. If you wish to hire a private lawyer, you may use the list of English-speaking lawyers. Prisoners Abroad can also supply general, non-country-specific information on legal aid, court proceedings and can advise on appointing a lawyer.

The costs of hiring a private lawyer as well as payment conditions may vary a great deal and you need to negotiate with the specific lawyer.

The state normally provides interpretation services free of charge. You may hire your own interpreter using a list of interpreters provided at the end of this pack. The service fees may vary, and you need to agree them with the specific service provider.

British Embassy Moscow can assist you with contacting friends or family in the UK to seek their financial support to cover your legal costs in Russia.

There is no legal aid in Russia. If you are suspected of or charged with a certain type of crime you may consider contacting local human rights NGOs, which may be able to provide legal advice, support and representation. The human rights NGOs in Russia are listed in Chapter 4 of this document.

Court fees and trial costs may be paid by the state or charged to you. The court will decide this as part of their verdict. The state should always cover the costs of services of a state-provided interpreter and defence lawyer.

If a criminal case against you was terminated, the court fees and trial costs may be charged to you. If you have been cleared of any charges, you will not need to pay any costs.

Trial

In Russia, when a criminal case comes to court, the judge may schedule a preliminary hearing or a trial. This is done within 14 days from the date of the case receipt by a court if you are on remand. The judge or a party to the proceedings may request a preliminary hearing to be held. A preliminary hearing may be scheduled if admissibility of certain evidence has been challenged, if there has been a request for a jury trial, if the case needs to be returned to the prosecution, if there are reasons for the criminal case to be suspended or terminated, if there is a need to separate or merge criminal cases. Preliminary hearings are not open to the general public.

A trial may be held over several sessions.

Once a trial has been scheduled, the judge subpoenas witnesses. A trial takes place no sooner than 7 days from the date when the criminal indictment was handed over to you and no later than 14 days from the date of the judge’s decision to hold a trial (30 days in case of a jury trial).

At a trial, the judge can question witnesses and the affected party through videoconferencing, while you have to be present in the courtroom. A trial is normally open to the general public except for cases involving state secrets, sensitive private matters or major concerns over a party’s security. Those present in a court room have a right to make written records or audio-recoding, while filming or taking photos can be done only with the prior permission of the judge.

The court verdict is always read at the final session which is open to the general public, except for in state security-related cases when the public can only hear the preliminary section and the sentencing section of the verdict.

The members of the court normally include:

• a judge
• a judge’s assistant and a secretary
• a state prosecution representative (who always has to be present during a trial)
• a defence lawyer (who can be removed or replaced without restarting the trial)
• experts

Court bailiffs are present and responsible for maintaining order in the courtroom.

None of the judges can be removed or replaced during a trial. If this happens, the trial has to be restarted.

All proceedings in a court room are recorded in the session protocol, which is completed and signed off by the presiding judge within 3 days of the session.

Sentences

The following penalties can be handed down by court:

• for administrative offences: a warning; a fine; confiscation of a tool or an object of offence; revocation of a right; expulsion; disqualification; short-term detention (up to 15 days); suspension of an activity; mandatory labour; prohibition to attend sporting events  

• for criminal offences: a fine; restriction of the right to take up a certain occupation/position; detention; revocation of a title, grade or award; mandatory labour; correctional labour; restriction of military service; personal restraint; arrest; imprisonment for a period/life; death penalty (currently not applied due to moratorium)

Expulsion (выдворение) can only be handed down by court, while deportation (депортация) can only be ordered by a state authority (Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Justice or else). Both can be either self-administered (you have to leave by yourself within a set timeframe) or forced (you are transferred from the courtroom to a state deportation centre and remain there until you are escorted out of Russia).

You may or may not be deported from Russia upon your release from prison, if expulsion was not your court sentence. Based on a crime committed and prior incidents of legal offence in Russia, deportation may be imposed if the authorities conclude that your stay in Russia is not conducive to the public good.

You will need to cover the cost of a forced expulsion or deportation yourself. It may be covered by the Russia state budget as a last resort, and this is a lengthy process. If you or your family or friends buy you a ticket, this can substantially expedite your departure from Russia.

British Embassy Moscow can help you contact your family or friends in the UK to purchase your ticket to the UK and liaise with the authorities to forward your ticket to you.

You may be deported back to the country that you entered Russia from, or to the UK.

Appeals

The defendant as well as the state prosecution and the affected party may appeal the verdict made by court. They have 10 days from the date the verdict was made (for prisoners on remand - from the date when the defendant received a copy of the verdict) to lodge the appeal.

Grounds for appeal may include severity or leniency in sentence, fact-finding errors, and approval or dismissal of a party’s motion, among other court decisions.

An appeal will be heard within:

• 15 days (from the date it was lodged), if made to a district court
• 30 days, if made to a regional court
• 45 days, if made to an appeal court of general jurisdiction or the Supreme Court

If no appeal has been lodged within 10 days, the verdict made by the court of first instance comes into full legal force.

After the verdict made by the court of first instance has come into force, you and other parties to the proceedings may file a cassation appeal. The ground for cassation appeal is normally a breach of legal procedure during the initial trial or appeal hearing.

Even if the appeal is made with a view to mitigate the original punishment, the actual appeal process may have the opposite result.

If the new evidence comes to light, a false statement is made by a witness or expert during the trial, or a crime is committed by a party (including judges) during the proceedings, the Russian Administrative Procedure Code requires the original judgement, or the appeal or cassation decision, to be reviewed.

Reaching the end of your sentence

Reduction of sentence (remission)

According to Russian law, remission (improving imprisonment conditions for good behaviour and productive labour) may be possible. You may be transferred to a type of prison with more favourable conditions (from a special camp to a high-security camp, or from a high-security one to a general one) having served half of your sentence; or from a general camp to a penal settlement having served one–quarter of your sentence. You need to file a request for such a transfer with a local court.

Reduction of sentence may also be possible. A court may agree to substitute the remaining part of a prison sentence with community labour if you have demonstrated good behaviour and compensated losses or damages caused by your crime.

Early release

According to Russian law, the early release of a prisoner on parole (условно-досрочное освобождение or УДО) for good behaviour and compensation of losses or damages from their crime may be possible. The decision is made by court, which will set the conditions to be observed for the remainder of the initial sentence. You may request a release on parole having served at least one-third of your sentence (in case you were sentenced for a minor or medium level offence), at least half of the sentence (a major crime), or two-thirds of the sentence (a particularly serious crime), amongst others. You would have to serve the prison sentence of at least 6 months in any case.

Clemency or pardon

The Russian Criminal Code provides for clemency. Clemency may come as pardon (forgiveness of a sentence) or commutation (reduction of a sentence, remission of a penalty). In Russia, only the President can grant clemency. There is also a custom of granting amnesty to prisoners sentenced for minor or medium offences, on the most significant dates in Russia’s history, but these are rare.

Financial penalties

Financial penalties may be all or part of a sentence. A prison sentence may be substituted with court fines in case of a minor or medium offence, and if the offender has compensated the losses or repaired the damages to the affected party.

Transfer to another prison within Russia

Normally all convicted persons serve their entire prison term in one penal institution.

Transfer to another prison within Russia is only possible:

• as a sentence remission

• if there is a threat to your safety and wellbeing

• if there is substantial deterioration of your health, requiring medical intervention

• if the prison is to be closed or reorganised

• in the case of a natural or a man-made disaster

• at your request for transfer to a penal institution in the Russian region where your family lives (possible only once throughout the sentence term)

Transfer to a prison in the UK

The UK and Russia are both parties to the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons 1983, which enables transfer of prisoners from Russia to the UK.

To transfer to the UK, you must:

• be a British citizen or have close family ties with the UK (normally through permanent residence in the UK)

• not be awaiting trial

• have exhausted all appeals against your conviction and/or the length of your sentence; or have waived your right for appeal

• have at least 6 months of your sentence left to serve when you apply for transfer

• have no outstanding fines or other non-custodial penalties

The offence you were convicted for must also be a criminal offence in the part of the UK you wish to be transferred to: England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

The authorities in Russia may refuse your request. Even if Russia agrees to your transfer, the UK authorities may also refuse your request. Reasons for this might include if you have not lived in the UK for a long time and you have no close family there.

If you would like to serve the rest of your sentence in the UK, you need to make a written request to the prison governor. The governor will make a submission to the Russian Ministry of Justice, who will contact the UK authorities for their consent to transfer. If the UK authorities are satisfied with the terms and conditions of transfer stipulated by the Russian side, they may grant their permission to transfer. Once the permission is granted, the Russian Ministry of Justice will inform FSIN accordingly, who will then submit a request for transfer to a local court.

The final decision about the transfer can only be made by a Russian court. The court will take into consideration if:

• the offence committed is also a crime in the UK

• there are provisions and conditions for serving the sentence in the UK comparable to those in Russia

• the required warranties have been given by the UK authorities

• the conditions of transfer are consistent with the international treaties, which Russia is a party to

• you have your permanent residence in Russia

It may take about 1.5 to 2 years to complete your transfer from Russia to the UK. To find out more about transfers to the UK see: In prison abroad: transfer to a UK prison

Release and deportation

You may or may not have to leave Russia after you have completed your sentence. Expulsion may be part of the sentence handed down by court. Deportation may be ordered by a state authority if your stay in Russia is considered not conducive to the public good. You may be able to contest your expulsion or deportation in a local court.

The information on expulsion or deportation process and how we can assist is available on the section Trial and legal assistance/Sentences of this document.

Sometimes people find that they face difficulties adjusting to life in the UK once they have left prison. You may find yourself ready for life on the outside but not prepared for living in the UK. You may not have lived in the UK before and have no connections there, or perhaps you have lost touch with friends and family. You may want to talk to another person who understands what you have been through, to help you consider what to do next.

If you are registered with Prisoners Abroad, they may be able to help you resettle in the UK.

Other sources of practical help back in the UK are:

The Salvation Army UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7367 4888 Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm, or contact your local Salvation Army branch

The Prison Fellowship UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7799 2500 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Your criminal record in the UK

We will not normally pass on information about your case to a third party without your consent. However, if you’re arrested for certain serious offences, such as child sex abuse or drugs crimes, our staff must tell other relevant UK authorities. It is possible that information about this may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by a prospective employer.

Chapter 4: Additional information

Useful contacts

The links may not be accessible from outside of Russia.

Russian Federation Human Rights Ombudsman

Tel: +7 495 870 4177; +7 495 870 3983

There are also ombudspeople in the regions of Russia.

Public Monitoring Boards
(similar to the UK Prison Monitoring Boards, available in every region of Russia)

Moscow

E-mail

NGOs in Russia

Crew Against Torture (Команда против пыток)

(Nizhni Novgorod, Moscow, Krasnodar, Orenburg, North Caucasus)

E-mail

Public Verdict Foundation (Фонд «Общественный вердикт»)

Tel: +7 495 951 1201

Prisoners Abroad

Since 1978 the charity Prisoners Abroad has offered practical support and advice to British citizens imprisoned abroad. It is the only UK charity providing this service. It is available to all, whether guilty or innocent, convicted or awaiting charge or trial. Prisoners Abroad supports your health and welfare during your imprisonment. It can also provide support on your return to the UK, through their resettlement service (if you have registered whilst in prison). They can also provide support and advice to your family when you are in prison.

To access any services, you must first register with Prisoners Abroad by signing and returning their authorisation form.

Once you seek help from Prisoners Abroad, the Prisoner & Family Support Service will be your point of contact for advice and information. The type of assistance they can offer varies from country to country, but generally they can provide you with information, in English, on:

• your rights as a prisoner
• issues that may affect you such as health or transfer to the UK
• getting magazines, newspapers, books and the regular Prisoners Abroad newsletter
• learning the language of your country of imprisonment
• translating documents
• grants for food if you are in a developing country and do not have funds from other sources
• grants for essential medicines and toiletries if you do not have funds from other sources
• preparing for release
• help for your loved ones, including information, family support groups and, in a few cases, assistance with the cost of visiting
• freepost envelopes to help you stay in touch with others

Prisoners Abroad

UK Helpline +44 (0)20 7561 6820 or 0808 172 0098
Mondays to Fridays 9:30am to 4:30pm (UK time)

89 – 93 Fonthill Road
London N4 3JH
UK

Glossary of Terms

Useful legal terms

Russian	Pronunciation	English
закон	zakon	law
задержанный	zaderzhanny	detainee
обвиняемый	obvinyaemy	indicted
адвокат/ защитник	advakat	defence lawyer
прокурор	prakuror	prosecutor
осужденный	osuzhdenny	convicted
залог	zalog	bail
содержание под стражей	saderzhanie pod strazhei	custody
подписка о невыезде	padpiska o nevyezde	undertaking not to leave
суд	sud	court
судья	sud’ya	judge
присяжные	prisyazhnye	jury
свидетель	svidetel’	witness
переводчик	perevodchik	translator
штраф	shtraf	fine
обвиняемый	obvinyaemy	defendant
наказание	nakazanie	penalty
пострадавший	pastradavshy	affected person
следственный изолятор - СИЗО	SIZO	remand prison
колония	kaloniya	camp
тюрьма	tyur’ma	prison
ШИЗО	shizo	punishment block
отряд	otryad	ward
одиночное заключение	odinochnoye zaklyucheniye	solitary confinement
условно-досрочное освобождение - УДО	UDO	release on parole
согласие	saglasie	consent
помилование	pomilovanie	clemency
апелляция	apellyatsiya	appeal
высылка	vysylka	expulsion
депортация	departatsiya	deportation

Key phrases – English into Russian

Russian	Pronunciation	English
здравствуйте	zdrastvooitye	hello
доброе утро	dobroye ootra	good morning
добрый день	dobry dyen	good day/afternoon
добрый вечер	dobry vecher	good evening
спокойной ночи	spakoynoy nochi	good night (i.e. sleep well)
до свидания	da svidaniya	good-bye
да	da	yes
нет	nyet	no
спасибо	spasiba	thank you
пожалуйста	pazhalooista	please/you’re welcome
извините	izvinitye	excuse me/ sorry
можно	mozhna?	may I…?

Vegetables - Овощи

Russian	Pronunciation	English
фасоль	fasol	beans
свекла	svyokla	beetroot
капуста	kapoosta	cabbage
морковь	markof’	carrot
цветная капуста	tsvetnaya kapoosta	cauliflower
огурцы	agoortsy	cucumbers
баклажан	baklazhan	aubergine
чеснок	chesnok	garlic
красный перец	krasny perets	red pepper
салат	salat	lettuce

Fruit - Фрукты

Russian	Pronunciation	English
яблоко	yabloko	apple
банан	banan	banana
виноград	veenagrad	grapes
абрикос	abrikos	apricot
лимон	leemon	lemon
дыня	dynya	melon
апельсин	apelseen	orange
персик	perseek	peach
груша	groosha	pear
ананас	ananas	pineapple
слива	sleeva	plum
изюм	eesyum	raisins
клубника	kloobneeka	strawberry
арбуз	arbooz	watermelon

Meat - мясо

Russian	Pronunciation	English
корейка	kareyka	bacon
говядина	gavyadina	beef
курица	kooritsa	chicken
утка	ootka	duck
гусь	goos	goose
ветчина	vyetcheena	ham
печень	pechen	liver
свинина	sveeneena	pork
сосиски	saseesky	sausage/hot dog
язык	yazik	tongue
индейка	indeyka	turkey
телятина	telyatina	veal

Fish - Рыба

Russian	Pronunciation	English
карп	karp	carp
икра	eekra	caviar
селедка	selyodka	herring
лосось	lasos	salmon

Miscellaneous Food - Прочие продукты

Russian	Pronunciation	English
хлеб	khlyeb	bread
белый	byely	white (wheat)
черный	chorny	rye
свежий	svezhy	fresh
булочка	boolochka	bun, roll
торт, пирог, кекс	tort, peerog, keks	cake
варенье	varenye	jam
майонез	mayonez	mayonnaise
кетчуп	ketchup	ketchup
макароны	makarony	noodles any type
пицца	pizza	pizza
соль	sol’	salt
перец	perets	pepper
мука	muka	flour
сахар	sakhar	sugar

Beverages - Напитки

Russian	Pronunciation	English
вода	vada	water
с газом	s gazom	fizzy
без газа	bez gaza	still
чай	chay	tea
кофе	kofye	coffee
сок	sok	juice
пиво	peeva	beer
вино	veeno	wine
водка	vodka	vodka

Dairy products – молочные продукты

Russian	Pronunciation	English
молоко	malako	milk
сгущенное молоко	sgooshyonoye malako	condensed milk
творог	tvarog	soft cheese
йогурт	yoghurt	yoghurt
сметана	smetana	sour cream
сыр	syr	cheese
масло	masla	butter
растительное масло	rastitelnoye masla	vegetable oil
маргарин	margarin	margarine

Annex

FCDO guidance: Support for British nationals abroad

FCDO guidance: Arrested abroad: advice for British nationals

List of English-speaking lawyers

List of Private Translators/Interpreters

Prisoners Abroad Forms