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

Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise

Police came to the family, or a relative has disappeared

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.

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

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

Who helps

5 organisations

Net Freedoms Project

Legal hotline: cases over posts, reposts and comments, website blocking, detentions via facial recognition.

Set up by lawyers from the Agora human rights group, which Russia designated 'undesirable' in 2023.

If Telegram doesn't open: Delta Chat

abroad link checked September 25

Message the bot @nfp_hotline

Prison Lawyer

Answers questions about imprisonment: rights in pre-trial detention and penal colonies, parcels, visits, parole.

online link checked September 25

Message the bot @prison_hot_line

Nora

Help for activists, volunteers, political prisoners and their families: free sessions with a psychologist or psychiatrist, a peer-support bot and a legal team.

If Telegram doesn't open: noraforpeople@gmail.com · website

in Russia (Moscow, St Petersburg)

Message the bot @nora_psyhelp_bot

First Department

Lawyers for treason, espionage, state secrets and extremism cases, including closed trials. Advice on digital security.

If Telegram doesn't open: website

abroad foreign agent link checked September 25

Message the bot @deptonebot

OVD-Info

Advice for people who are detained or face administrative or criminal cases over protests and anti-war statements. They can tell you how to behave during questioning.

Since June 2026 it no longer works with lawyers in Russia; it gives advice and refers people onward. For criminal cases and pressure on families, also contact First Department and Prison Lawyer. A call to the 8 800 number from a Russian SIM card stays in the operator's records.

If Telegram doesn't open: legal@ovdinfo.org · 8 800 707-05-28

abroad foreign agentextremiston Rosfinmonitoring list link checked September 25

Message the bot @ovdinfobot

Lawyers for political cases →