Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise
Draft. Compiled from human rights groups' guides but not yet reviewed by a lawyer. This is not legal advice — check the linked sources and consult a lawyer.
Designations of organisations in this guide: Russian America for Democracy in Russia (RADR) (undesirable). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.
current as of September 25. More: Boston Globe: the US is turning its back on Russian asylum seekers; First Department: extradition and deportation (foreign agent)
Protects Russians in Kazakhstan from extradition and deportation and helps with asylum; also takes cases of Kazakh activists and journalists.
Helps people already in Kazakhstan; lawyer Artur Alkhastov advises Russians. Entering or transiting Kazakhstan is risky: since January 2026 the authorities have extradited and deported political refugees.
If Telegram doesn't open: Telegram channel @kibhr
Germany's largest asylum rights organisation: advice, help finding a lawyer, appeals against refusals.
UN Refugee Agency country pages: how to apply for asylum, where to go, local partner contacts.
One of Georgia's oldest human rights groups: strategic litigation, defence of people detained at protests, ECHR applications.
Since 14 March 2026 its general free legal aid is suspended: GYLA runs in 'crisis mode' and takes only strategic cases. For a free consultation, try the Transparency International Georgia legal centre.
Lawyers for treason, espionage, state secrets and extremism cases, including closed trials. Advice on digital security.
If Telegram doesn't open: website
Association of anti-war Russians in the US: helps Russian asylum seekers, including people held in immigration detention.
Since 2025 the US has been detaining and deporting Russian asylum seekers en masse; rights groups advise against crossing from Mexico without a lawyer.