Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise
Travelling back to Russia: assessing the risks
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.
Check yourself: a criminal-record certificate via Gosuslugi, the police wanted list, the bailiffs' database, the Rosfinmonitoring list, the draft register, court websites. More in 'Check yourself'. Note that the authorities can see when you log in to Gosuslugi.
Think about what could be used against you: donations to 'undesirable' or 'extremist' organisations or the Ukrainian army, posts with banned symbols, subscriptions to banned channels.
You can be named a suspect at any moment, including at the border. Human rights groups advise travelling with an ordinary phone prepared in advance, with a safe history, and arranging contact with a lawyer beforehand. Agree a check-in call with someone outside Russia.
At the border you'll be asked about your trip, job, relatives in Ukraine and view of the war, and devices may be inspected. If detained, ask your status, demand a lawyer, invoke art. 51 of the Constitution.
Men of draft age: if there's a summons in the register you won't be allowed to leave again. Get advice before the trip: First Department, Network Freedoms, OVD-Info (bot). OVD-Info is designated 'extremist' in Russia, so contact it from a device you will not take across the border.
Designations of organisations in this guide: OVD-Info (foreign agent, extremist, on Rosfinmonitoring list). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.
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.