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Russian attorney for foreign citizens: criminal defence and civil disputes in Moscow and the Moscow Region

If you, a relative or your company has a legal problem in Russia, the first questions are always the same: what is happening, what are the deadlines, and who can act for you while you are abroad or do not speak Russian. I am a Russian advocate (advokat) admitted by the Moscow Region Bar Chamber, practising since 2002. I handle criminal cases from the moment of detention, civil and commercial disputes, inheritance and family matters with a foreign element in the courts of Moscow and the Moscow Region. You can write to me in English — you will receive a reply in English with a duplicate in Russian; if the two versions differ, the Russian text prevails.

☎ Call: +7 925 529-51-13 Write in Telegram

48 hoursmaximum detention without a court order

12 hoursto notify your embassy or consulate of a detention

Freeinterpreter in a criminal case, paid by the state

No. 50/7811Register of Advocates of the Moscow Region

01 · WHAT I DO

Six situations in which foreign clients usually contact me

Detention, search, interrogation

A person suspected of a crime is entitled to a defence lawyer from the moment of actual detention — before the first interrogation, not after it
A detained foreign citizen has the right to have the embassy or consulate notified within 12 hours
Relatives or friends may engage the lawyer on the detainee's behalf — the detainee confirms the choice at the first meeting

Art. 49, 50, 96 Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation

Criminal defence in court

Fraud and economic crimes, drug cases, bodily harm, road accidents, official misconduct
Preventive measures: custody, house arrest, bail, travel ban — each is ordered and extended only by a court and can be appealed
Defence of a victim is also possible: complaint, civil claim within the criminal case, compensation of damage

Art. 97–110 Code of Criminal Procedure

Your right to your own language

In a criminal case you may testify in your native language and use an interpreter free of charge
The indictment, the verdict and other key procedural documents must be handed to you translated into your language
In a civil case you also have the right to an interpreter and to speak your own language in court

Art. 18, 132 Code of Criminal Procedure; Art. 9 Code of Civil Procedure

Contracts, debts, business disputes

Recovery of debts and damages, disputes under supply, lease, construction and service contracts
Commercial disputes of companies and individual entrepreneurs in arbitrazh (commercial) courts
Disputes with Russian marketplaces and counterparties, consumer claims

Civil Code of the Russian Federation; Arbitrazh Procedure Code

Inheritance in Russia

Real estate located in Russia is inherited under Russian law — regardless of the citizenship and residence of the deceased and of the heirs
Inheritance must be accepted within six months; a missed deadline can be restored only by a court
Accepting an inheritance from abroad is possible through an attorney acting under a power of attorney

Art. 1154, 1155, 1224 Civil Code

Family matters with a foreign element

Divorce of a marriage between a Russian and a foreign citizen in a Russian court
Division of property acquired in Russia, maintenance (alimony) for children
Disputes about the child's place of residence and contact with the child

Family Code of the Russian Federation, Art. 160, 161, 163

02 · IF YOU ARE ABROAD

Most of the work can be done without your presence in Russia

What can be done remotely

Initial consultation by phone or video call; documents are sent as scans or photos
Legal services agreement signed remotely; in a criminal case the agreement can be concluded by a relative in Russia
Representation in a civil or commercial court under a power of attorney — your personal attendance is usually not required
Filing of claims, appeals and motions electronically through the official court system
Regular written reports on the progress of the case in English with a Russian duplicate

Documents from abroad

A power of attorney issued abroad is certified by a local notary and then apostilled — Russia and most countries are parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention
For a number of countries an apostille is not needed under bilateral legal assistance treaties — this is checked for your specific country
Any document in a foreign language is filed with a Russian court together with a duly certified translation into Russian
A power of attorney can also be issued at a Russian consulate abroad — then neither apostille nor translation is required
Originals are sent by courier; for the first steps a scan is usually enough

Language of the proceedings. Court proceedings in Russia are conducted in Russian. In criminal cases the interpreter is appointed and paid by the state. In civil and commercial cases the participant who does not speak Russian is entitled to an interpreter; in practice it is better to plan the interpreter in advance so that a hearing is not postponed. Communication between us — consultations, letters, explanations of court documents — can be organised in English. Every written reply is given in English with a duplicate in Russian. In case of misunderstanding, discrepancy or dispute about our correspondence, the Russian text prevails.

What I do not promise. No advocate in Russia may promise the outcome of a case, and I do not do so. At the first consultation you will receive an assessment of the situation based on the documents, the deadlines, the risks and the order of actions — without guarantees of the result.

03 · DEADLINES

Four time limits that are often missed

48 hoursdetention without a court

After this period a detained person must be released unless a court has ordered custody or another preventive measure.

Art. 22 Constitution, Art. 94 Code of Criminal Procedure

15 daysappeal against a verdict

The time limit for appealing a criminal judgment; for a person in custody it runs from the day a copy is handed over.

Art. 389.4 Code of Criminal Procedure

1 monthappeal in a civil case

From the date the reasoned judgment is made. The reasoned judgment is often prepared several days after the hearing — the date must be checked.

Art. 321 Code of Civil Procedure

6 monthsto accept an inheritance

From the date of death. After that — only through a court, with proof of valid reasons for the delay.

Art. 1154, 1155 Civil Code

04 · HOW WE WORK

From the first message to the court

Step 1

Message

Briefly describe the situation in English in Telegram or by e-mail and attach the documents you have. Please indicate the city and the court, if known.

Step 2

Consultation

By video call or in the office in Noginsk. You get an assessment of the situation, the deadlines, the possible actions and the cost of the work.

Step 3

Agreement

A written agreement with a fixed fee and scope of work. Power of attorney or warrant (order) of the advocate for the case.

Step 4

Case work

Participation in investigative actions and hearings, preparation of documents, appeals. Reports to you after every significant step.

05 · FEES

Cost of services

Online consultation by phone or video call4 000 ₽

Consultation in the office, 1 hour5 000 ₽

Claim, complaint, motion or appealfrom 12 000 ₽

Representation in a civil or commercial casefrom 70 000 ₽

Criminal defencefrom 100 000 ₽

The exact fee is set after reviewing the documents and fixed in the agreement before work begins. Fees are paid in roubles to a Russian bank account; how to pay from abroad is discussed individually. Interpreter, notary, translation and court fees are paid separately.

06 · QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

My relative has been detained in Russia. What should I do first?

Find out where the person is being held and which authority detained them, and contact a lawyer immediately: a suspect is entitled to a defence lawyer from the moment of actual detention (para. 3 part 3 Art. 49 of the Code of Criminal Procedure), and the first interrogation is often decisive. The agreement with the lawyer can be signed by a relative on the detainee's behalf (part 1 Art. 50). The detainee has the right to testify in their native language with a free interpreter (Art. 18) and to have their embassy or consulate notified within 12 hours of detention (part 3 Art. 96). The detainee is also entitled to one phone call to relatives no later than 3 hours after being brought to the investigator (part 1 Art. 96). Within 48 hours a court must decide whether to order custody.

Do I have to come to Russia for the court?

In civil and commercial cases usually not: an advocate represents you under a power of attorney, and documents are filed electronically. A power of attorney issued abroad must be apostilled or, for some countries, is accepted without it under a bilateral treaty; it is filed with a certified translation into Russian (Art. 408 of the Code of Civil Procedure). In a criminal case the presence of the defendant at trial is, as a rule, mandatory.

Who pays for the interpreter?

In a criminal case the interpreter is free for the suspect, accused or defendant: the costs are borne by the federal budget (part 2 Art. 18, part 3 Art. 132 of the Code of Criminal Procedure). In civil cases the right to an interpreter is guaranteed by Art. 9 of the Code of Civil Procedure; payment for the interpreter is treated as a court expense and is decided according to the rules on legal costs.

Can you work with a company registered outside Russia?

Yes. A foreign company may be a party to a dispute in a Russian court through a representative under a power of attorney issued by its director. You will need documents confirming the company's legal status and the director's authority, apostilled or legalised and translated into Russian. Disputes between businesses are heard by arbitrazh (commercial) courts.

Describe your situation — I will tell you the deadlines and the next steps

Phone and Telegram: +7 925 529-51-13 · E-mail: apisk@yandex.ru · Office: 3 Aptechny Lane, 2nd floor, office 35, Noginsk, Moscow Region (by appointment, Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00 Moscow time). Russian version of the website: advokat-piskarev.ru. 中文版: 中文页面.

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