Why is pre-trial detention in Russia particularly difficult for a foreigner?
For a foreigner who does not speak Russian, pre-trial detention brings additional difficulties that affect almost every part of daily life.
Few, if any, of your cellmates may speak your language. Even an ordinary conversation can become a problem.
Detention center staff may not speak your language either. This makes it difficult to understand the administration’s requirements, explain a problem or file a complaint about detention conditions.
Speaking your language during visits with relatives and loved ones requires additional arrangements. Foreign nationals can request this in writing. If no staff member understands the language, an interpreter or another person who speaks it may be invited to allow the administration to monitor the conversation.
Postal and online correspondence can be delayed while messages are translated. Even a simple exchange with your family can take much longer than expected.
Paying for online services from abroad can be difficult. Foreign-issued bank cards are not accepted by every service, so relatives may need to find an alternative payment option or ask someone in Russia to help.
You cannot simply open an online translation tool to understand your case materials. You depend on interpreters, translated documents and explanations or printed materials supplied by your lawyer.
Investigative actions can take longer to arrange because an interpreter must also be available. This adds another practical complication to the preliminary investigation.
Avoiding pre-trial detention, or having it replaced with a less restrictive measure such as house arrest, can be more difficult, particularly where you have no established home, work or family ties in Russia.
Unfamiliar food.
These are difficulties associated with detention itself. Defending the criminal case brings further challenges. Having a defense lawyer who speaks your language can help you understand what is happening and discuss your position directly.
We provide criminal defense for foreign nationals in Russia and communicate with clients in English. If you or a family member is facing criminal proceedings in Russia, contact us to discuss the situation and the next steps.