Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise
You are abroad and wanted in Russia
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.
How to check: a criminal record certificate via a consulate, the Interior Ministry 'wanted' database, Interpol's public Red Notices — see 'Check yourself'. CIS-channel searches bypass Interpol's filters.
After a detention on an extradition request Russia usually has about 40 days to send papers. Apply for asylum at once, but with a lawyer: mistakes in the first application are hard to fix. A lawyer can also complain to the UN Human Rights Committee: its interim measures halted Movlaev's extradition from Kazakhstan.
High risk, including in transit: Kazakhstan (Yemelyanova was detained changing planes in Almaty), Kyrgyzstan (Russian Interior Ministry office in Bishkek since 17 Aug 2026), Uzbekistan, UAE, Turkey.
In 2026 Georgia resumed extraditions to Russia (5 people; on 18 Sep a court also cleared Timofeev, a Furgal aide) and refuses entry to some. Armenia does not extradite in political cases, but people were removed via the Gyumri base.
Germany has effectively closed humanitarian visas for Russians and BAMF rejects deserters en masse. Rights groups advise applying for asylum with a lawyer and collecting evidence of persecution in advance.
Where to turn: The Ark (Kovcheg), First Department, inTransit. If you are already in Kazakhstan, contact the Kazakhstan Bureau. The Anti-War Committee's 'Consuls' help if you face deportation. The Anti-War Committee is designated 'terrorist' in Russia. If you have ties to Russia, contacting it can become grounds for a case under 'terrorism' articles. Write to the 'Consuls' only if deportation is a real threat, and after talking to a lawyer.
Designations of organisations in this guide: Anti-War Committee 'Consuls' (terrorist). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.
Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise
Interpol, surveillance and abductions
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.
Most Interpol Red Notices are not public. A full request about yourself and a complaint go to the Commission for the Control of Files (CCF) — see 'Check yourself'.
Interpol's Constitution (art. 3) bars political cases. According to Interpol's internal data, about half of Russian files reviewed by the CCF did not comply with its rules.
CIS-channel searches bypass Interpol's filters. Abductions are known in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia and Uzbekistan: people were lured to meetings or seized near bases.
Rights groups advise not agreeing to 'business' meetings and keeping threats as evidence for the police and a lawyer. Let one trusted person outside Russia know your route. Don't give details to family in Russia: they may be questioned.
Digital security: the Access Now helpline (24/7, Russian spoken) and First Department guides.
Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise
The register of people abroad: Law 284-FZ
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.
Since 4 August 2026 the Ministry of Justice keeps a register of people abroad convicted in absentia under any Criminal Code article or fined under 'political' administrative articles: foreign agents, 'undesirables', 'discrediting the army'.
People on the register cannot get a passport or register a marriage at a consulate, and notaries will not act for them. Gosuslugi, powers of attorney, self-employment, loans and property or car deals are closed.
Income in Russia goes to a monitored account. Dependent relatives can receive a monthly payment from these funds.
Lawyers usually advise acting in advance: a second passport, powers of attorney, property deals, moving savings, apostilles on diplomas and civil-status documents.
You leave the register if the sentence is overturned, served, or you return. The register is still in test mode — see 'Check yourself'.
Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise
Detained abroad: immigration detention and deportation
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.
In the US, Russian asylum seekers are widely held in ICE detention and deported; RADR estimates up to a thousand Russians are detained. There have been arrests straight after deportation to Moscow.
Now: say you fear returning and are asking for asylum; demand a lawyer and an interpreter. Human rights groups advise signing nothing you can't read — especially consent to 'voluntary departure'.
Tell your family your case number and where you are held. Keep copies of evidence of persecution with a trusted person outside Russia in advance.
If removal is imminent: in Council of Europe countries a lawyer can urgently ask the ECHR for interim measures (Rule 39); in some countries, UN committees.
Where to turn: RADR (US), UNHCR, GYLA (Georgia), PRO ASYL (Germany); if it's an extradition request — First Department and the 'Abroad and wanted' note.
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.
Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise
Seizure of property and accounts of those who left
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.
Since 1 September 2026 courts can freeze property of people abroad punished under certain 'political' administrative articles (foreign agents, 'undesirables', 'disrespect for authorities', sanctions calls, etc.): first accounts, then homes and cars.
It's a freeze, not confiscation: you can't dispose of the property. The court decides within one working day, without the person present.
With unpaid fines over 30,000 roubles, bailiffs can ban leaving Russia. Enforcement proceedings are listed in the bailiffs' database — see 'Check yourself'.
Lawyers usually advise arranging powers of attorney, property deals and moving savings out of Russian banks in advance — before you're added to the 284-FZ register.
If an account is frozen: some money is protected from seizure — OVD-Info explains how to get it back. Where to turn: First Department, Reforum Help.
Designations of organisations in this guide: OVD-Info (foreign agent, extremist, on Rosfinmonitoring list); Reforum Help (undesirable). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.
Draft First minutes: what human rights defenders usually advise
In Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan and wanted by Russia
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.
Since January 2026 Kazakhstan has extradited and deported political émigrés, sometimes within hours, via minor offences like jaywalking. Since August 2026 Russia's Interior Ministry has had an office in Bishkek that exchanges data.
Deal with the police and the KNB only through a lawyer. In Kazakhstan you can invoke Article 19 of the Constitution and not testify against yourself. Do not sign minor-offence reports without a lawyer.
If detained on an extradition request, apply for asylum at once with a lawyer: mistakes in the first application are hard to fix. At the same time, complain to the UN Human Rights Committee and ask for interim measures. This is how Movlaev's extradition was halted.
Have a lawyer check your temporary or permanent residence permit: the KNB is checking forged permits. Without one you may stay 90 days in 180. Expulsion goes to the nearest country — from Astana, to Russia.
Do not transit through Almaty, Astana or Bishkek: Yulia Yemelyanova was detained while changing planes in Almaty. Rights groups advise planning a move to a country with independent courts.
Where to turn: Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights, The Ark (Kovcheg), inTransit. The Anti-War Committee's 'Consuls' help if you face deportation. The Anti-War Committee is designated 'terrorist' in Russia. If you have ties to Russia, contacting it can become grounds for a case under 'terrorism' articles. Write to the 'Consuls' only if deportation is a real threat, and after talking to a lawyer.
Designations of organisations in this guide: Anti-War Committee 'Consuls' (terrorist). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.
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.
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.
Legal advice for people who have left (documents, residence permits, visas, asylum, extradition risk), temporary housing, free psychologists, mutual-aid chats by city.
Lawyers via the Telegram bots @kovcheglive_bot and @EmigrantHelpBot; psychologists and housing via forms on the website. The project was set up with support from the Anti-War Committee, designated 'terrorist' in Russia in March 2026; The Ark itself is a 'foreign agent'.
Emergency help for anti-war Russians abroad facing deportation to Russia or refusal of residence or asylum: appeals to authorities, finding local lawyers. 13 EU countries, the UK and the US.
On 2 March 2026 Russia's Supreme Court designated the Anti-War Committee a 'terrorist organisation'. Contacting, taking part or donating can lead to charges under terrorism articles for anyone with ties to Russia or plans to travel there. They do not help people inside Russia. Use only if you face a real deportation threat.