Arrested or in prison in Russia

Contacting the British Embassy or Consulate

The British Embassy and Consulate in Russia can offer help but will not be able to get you out of prison or get you special treatment because you’re British. Find out what help the embassy or consulate can offer.

Family and friends can contact:

the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) in London

British Embassy Moscow

British Consulate General Ekaterinburg

Finding a lawyer and a translator

Find a lawyer in Russia

You should carefully consider getting a local lawyer.

Prisoners Abroad has information on appointing a lawyer and legal aid (not specific to Russia).

Court fees and trial costs may be covered by the state or charged to you. If a criminal case against you is terminated, or you’re found guilty, the court fees and trial costs may be charged to you. If you have been cleared of any charges, you will not need to pay.

Private lawyers

Check the list of local English-speaking lawyers if you want to appoint your own private lawyer. Ask the British Embassy or Consulate if you need a paper copy.

The costs of hiring a private lawyer as well as the terms of payment may vary. You need to negotiate these with a lawyer in advance.

Legal aid

There is no legal aid in Russia.

Court-appointed lawyers

If you do not appoint your own private lawyer the Russian state will provide a court-appointed lawyer free of charge. You may also refuse any legal representation.

If you’re not happy with your court-appointed lawyer, you cannot change them. You can refuse their services and continue without any legal representation.

You do not need to pay back the fee for the court-appointed lawyer even if you’re found guilty.

Find a translator or interpreter in Russia

You may need a translator to help you read Russian language documents about your case.

You might need an interpreter to help you communicate with your lawyer or at your trial.

Any court proceedings with participation of a non-Russian speaking party includes a court-appointed interpreter. Their services are paid for by the state.

You may also hire your own interpreter. The service fees and terms of payment may vary, and you need to agree these with an interpreter in advance.

Search for an English-speaking translator or interpreter in Russia.

What happens when you’re arrested in Russia

You can be arrested and taken to a local police station:

• because of an existing arrest warrant
• where there are grounds for issuing an arrest warrant
• if you’re caught in the act of performing a crime
• if it’s expected you’ll leave the country to escape justice
• your identity cannot be confirmed

The police must tell you in a language you understand, or through an interpreter:

• why you’ve been arrested
• that initial proceedings against you have started
• your rights

Do not sign any documents unless you understand them and have no concern about their content. You must be given an interpreter if you ask for one.

Your rights

You have the right to:

• remain silent
• refuse to cooperate in the proceedings
• request an interpreter
• request that your lawyer or a state-appointed lawyer is present before answering questions/making a statement
• make one phone call in the Russian language to a Russian number within 3 hours from the moment of detention with a police officer present
• request to see a doctor

How long you can be held for

You can be held for up to 48 hours at a police station without a charge. Access to food and water, and a bed may not be provided during this period.

You should be immediately released when this period is over, unless the court orders you to be put on remand. In exceptional circumstance you may be kept in the police custody for up to 120 hours for the police to gather evidence.

Being put on remand

If you’re suspected of committing an offence, you may be put on remand while you wait for the criminal investigation and the trial to finish.

How long you can be on remand for

Prisoners are initially held on remand for up to 3 months, but court can extend this period for up to 18 months. After that, you should appear before the judge or be released.

Bail

Release on bail is not a common practice in Russia, especially in cases involving foreign nationals.

You can request bail during the investigation into a criminal case or when the case comes to court.

The court approves or rejects the bail and sets the amount and type of bail depending on your situation and the likelihood of you leaving Russia. The court may set bail conditions, including banning you from:

• driving a vehicle
• entering or leaving certain areas
• meeting certain people
• using the internet
• sending or receive mail

You, or a third person who is not a party to the criminal proceedings, may pay bail.

British Embassy Moscow can assist you with contacting friends and family who may be willing to help with raising bail.

British Embassy Moscow or Consulate General Ekaterinburg cannot transfer bail funds for you.

Arriving at prison

Prisoners on remand are normally kept in remand prisons, separately from sentenced prisoners. The rights of remanded prisoners and their detention conditions differ from those of sentenced prisoners.

When you arrive at prison, you will be searched. You’ll have your photo taken and asked to give details like your:

• name, date of birth and nationality
• home address
• medical conditions
• religion, marital status and profession
• name and address of next of kin

Prisoners in Russia are not assigned individual numbers and are identified by their full name and date of birth.

The prison authority will inform your next of kin that you’re in prison whether you have given them permission or not.

Personal belongings

When you arrive at prison, prison staff will complete an inventory of your belongings, including money and valuable items, and keep it on file. Prison authorities will retain all the items that you’re not allowed to keep, including money, valuables and any belongings more than 50 kg. You will not have any access to these until the time of your release.

You’re allowed to wear your own clothing in a remand prison. If you receive a custodial sentence, you will be given a prison uniform, which you must always wear while in prison.

Your prison cell

In Russian prisons, single or shared cells, or barracks-style accommodation may be available. There are normally washbasins, electricity and running cold water in the cells and barracks. Cells and barracks may or may not have hot water, and most of them have natural light. Cells and barracks are normally heated from October until May.

There are bunk beds with mattresses, blankets and bedding. The quality and conditions of the facilities as well as ventilation and sanitation in the cells may not meet UK standards.

Overcrowding is currently not a common problem in Russian prisons.

In remand prison, a cell normally accommodates one or several persons. You’re provided with a bed, bedding and a weekly change of bed linen, towel, utensils and cutlery, basic toiletries, basic medical services and receive 3 hot meals a day.

You may be able to make phone calls. Normally, you’re entitled to one walk a day outdoors, on the prison premises, for at least one hour. 

If the court finds you guilty and you receive a prison sentence, you, your personal file and belongings will leave the remand prison within 10 days to be transferred to a penal camp or a prison.

The time you spend in transit does not count toward your sentence time. You will not be able to contact your lawyer, friends, family or the British Embassy or Consulate while in transit.

The time you spend on remand counts towards your sentence.

You will be taken to a shower, given a prison uniform and placed in a holding cell for 15 days for infection control purposes. Prison authorities may search you, your belongings and your cell at any point.

Sentenced prisoners are accommodated in barracks with a capacity of 20 beds or more, or in cells of smaller capacity, unless they are sentenced to solitary confinement.

You have the right to make phone calls of up to 15 minutes long at your own expense. For every call, you need to submit a prior written request to the prison authority specifying the number and other details of the person you want to call and the language of the call.

Depending on a prison’s technical capacity, the calls may or may not be limited to numbers within Russia. The prison authority may monitor the calls. You can normally call the British Embassy or Consulate.

Contacting the British Embassy or Consulate

If you’re arrested, the investigator in charge should notify British Embassy Moscow within 12 hours from the time of your arrest. The notification may be delayed. At the investigator’s request the prosecutor may waive this requirement.

If you receive a prison sentence, the prison administration should notify British Embassy Moscow of your arrival at prison.

Medical check-up

When you arrive at prison, you will be examined by a medical specialist. Tell them about any medical conditions you already have.

The medical services available at Russian prisons are very basic. Emergency medical services are available to prisoners 24 hours a day. You can see a prison doctor upon request.

You cannot bring or use your own medicine. The prison provides medicine if it is available, but it may be locally manufactured. Your family or friends may also provide medicine but only with the prior approval of the prison doctor. The medicine provided by external parties can only be taken under the direct observation of a prison medical specialist.

Contact the British Embassy or Consulate if you need help getting your medical notes from the UK.

Rights and responsibilities in prison

When you arrive at prison, you will be given a summary of prison rules and regulations, your own rights and responsibilities, daily schedule, fire safety instructions as well as possible sanctions for breaching any of these. You must sign to confirm you have read the documents.

Possible punishments for breaching prison regulations include a verbal reprimand, a fine and a transfer to solitary confinement for up to 15 days. Repeat offenders may be transferred from barracks to cells for up to one year, or to solitary confinement for up to 6 months. Such punishment is also accompanied by the temporary restriction of access to phone calls and the prison shop, visits, receipt of parcels, and outdoor walks.

In Russian prisons, the breaches of prison regulations include:

• use of psychoactive substances
• threats or disobedience to prison staff
• manufacturing of prohibited items
• staging or participating in riots
• refusal to work

You can earn privileges for good behaviour. These include verbal or written acknowledgements, and up to 4 additional visits and parcels a year.  

Visits from family or friends

In Russian prisons, you can normally have visit from your family and lawyer. Your friends may only be able to visit if the investigator in charge of your case (for remanded prisoners), or prison administration (for sentenced prisoners) agree to that.

Visiting rules are different for different types of prisons and your circumstances.

You may be temporarily refused visits if you’re subjected by the prison administration to a disciplinary action. You will not have visits if the prison is under epidemiologic quarantine, your visitor is unable to prove they are related to you, or you refused visits.

How many visits you’re allowed

The frequency of visits, their duration and the number of visitors at the same time vary depending on your imprisonment regime, your sentence and the type of facility.

You can ask your lawyer, or the prison administration, about the rules.

Arranging visits

If you’re remanded in Russia, the decision on family visits rests with the investigator in charge of your criminal case. If you have been sentenced but your sentence has not yet begun, you need to request permission for a visit from the court which held the trial of your case.

On remand, you can have up to 2 visits by family members or other persons each month, with each visit lasting up to 3 hours.

On remand, you need to have a prior written permission for each visit from the authority in charge of your case. The details of the visitors need to be included in the permission. No more than 2 adults can visit at one time, and children may or may not be allowed to accompany them.

If you have been sentenced, you need to request permission for a visit from the prison administration.

Sentenced prisoners are entitled to short (4 hours) and long (3 days on prison premises or 5 days outside of prison) visits.

The short visits are for both family and friends, but the long ones are for immediate family only. A longer visit cannot be arranged for any visitor who is not family, even if they had to travel from abroad.

Lawyers have an unlimited number of visits.

During the visit

If you’re visiting a prisoner, you need to present your passport upon arrival. You will be security checked. Electronic and potentially dangerous items, as well as cameras and video cameras, audio recorders and copiers are not allowed on prison premises. Visitors under the influence of alcohol or drugs and those not listed in the visit permission are not allowed in.

A visit may start late, or participants may be requested to keep it shorter. Prison staff may end the visit if you attempt to pass any forbidden items, food or substances or share any information on the prisoner’s case.

Visits take place in a special meeting room. The visitors and the prisoner are normally separated by a glass partition and can clearly see and hear each other. The conditions and equipment in meeting rooms vary depending on prison facility.

A prison officer will observe all visits and can hear the visitors and the prisoner.

What visitors can take with them

The list of acceptable and prohibited items is normally displayed in the reception room or on the central prison authority website and may vary depending on facility. You need to take all items to a designated reception room either before or after the visit, as you’re not allowed to give them directly to the prisoner.

You will need to complete 3 copies of the inventory form and pass these together with your ID and the items for the prisoner to a prison staff member. Prison staff will check all items, and those not accepted will be returned to you.

The following items may be accepted: food, toiletries, clothing and footwear (except military uniform and military style clothing), writing supplies, books/magazines/newspapers in the Russian language. Prison staff will check all printed materials, those in a foreign language are unlikely to be allowed. Only medicine prescribed by the prison doctor can be accepted.

Visits from the British Embassy or Consulate staff

You can write to us at any time about issues you’re concerned about at:

If it is urgent, it may be quicker to call or ask your lawyer to contact us on your behalf.

British Embassy Moscow or Consulate General Ekaterinburg aim to visit you in prison once every 6 months depending on your location and circumstances. If we are concerned about your health or welfare, including mistreatment, we will aim to visit you sooner. 

We will tell you about our plans to visit when we are first in contact with you. We will need to receive permission from the Russian authorities for each visit.

Money

You can receive money into your prison account from your family or friends to pay for your phone calls or buy supplies at a prison shop.

British Embassy Moscow or Consulate General Ekaterinburg do not provide financial assistance to prisoners.

Money transfers from family or friends

Family or friends can send you money into your prison account online or by bank transfer. Ask the prison authorities for the online payment system or the bank account details for your family or friends to use.

Cash cannot be sent by post, handed over or made available to you.

Prison accounts

You will get a personal account within the prison’s bank account in Russian prison. You can spend your money to pay for your phone calls or buy goods at a prison shop. Prison authorities may take up to 75% of your money to cover your living cost.

If you receive a prison sentence, the money from your account in remand prison will be wired to your account at the prison you’re transferred to.

How to make a complaint about mistreatment

If you have concerns over your safety or wellbeing, you can raise this with the prison authority verbally or in writing, your lawyer during a meeting, and the British Embassy or Consulate by phone, post or during a consular visit.

The British Embassy or Consulate can help if you have been mistreated or abused – we will take all complaints seriously. We will ask your permission before taking any action.

In response to this the prison administration may transfer you to a safe place within their prison, or to a different penal facility. 

If you have been mistreated, inform British Embassy Moscow or Consulate General Ekaterinburg consular staff as soon as it is safe for you to do so. We will do our best to visit you, check on your welfare, discuss the allegations, and inform you of any local complaint procedures that you may wish to consider. With your permission, and where appropriate, we will consider approaching the local authorities.

If you have been mistreated, try to see a doctor and obtain a medical report.

In Russia you can make complaints about your imprisonment conditions or a mistreatment to the prison administration verbally or in writing and request an appointment with a member of the prison administration.

You can make a written complaint in your native language and receive a written response translated into your native language.

Prison staff record complaints made to the prison administration, including through a personal appointment, in the logbook. The prison administration should respond to verbal complaints within one working day. The prison administration should register a written complaint within 3 days, and hand over a written response to you within 3 working days after it has been issued.

You can make a written complaint to the external authorities, including prison monitoring boards, court, ombudsperson, prosecutor and the Russian President.

Such complaints are exempt from censorship by prison administration and should be posted within one working day. If you have no funds in your prison account, the prison administration should post the complaint at the prison’s expense.

Your investigation and trial in Russia

The Russian court structure includes, amongst others, federal and regional courts, appeal courts, and military courts.

A person accused of committing a crime may enter a pre-trial plea to disclose information or compensate losses or damages to the affected person in hope of a more lenient punishment.

Court cases are open to the public, except for those involving state secrets, private matters or major concerns over a party’s security. A trial may also be closed to the public following a party’s petition.

The key parties to civil proceedings are the claimant and the defendant. In criminal proceedings, the key parties are the prosecutor and the defendant.

Juries are used in criminal cases, except for those of terrorism, mass unrest, state treason, espionage, and armed rebellion. Juries are not used in civil cases.

In Russian law, every person is innocent until proven guilty. In criminal cases, the defendant can plead guilty or not guilty. A confession by the defendant is treated as evidence.

There are 2 possible verdicts in criminal cases: guilty and not guilty.

Capital punishment is currently not applied in Russia due to a moratorium.

In Russia, the main stages of a remanded prisoner’s case are:

1. Investigation into the criminal case by an investigating authority to gather evidence and establish the circumstances of the crime. There is no limit on the duration of investigation. During the investigation, the suspect or accused may be subjected to restriction measures: a travel ban, a house arrest or incarceration. Prisoners on remand are placed in remand prisons, where they remain until the court has delivered a verdict. The length of incarceration on remand normally does not exceed 18 months before the case comes to court.

2. Once the investigation has been completed the investigating authority will forward the case to the state prosecutor.

3. The prosecutor has 10 days to review the case and forward it to court, or return it to the investigating authority for further action.

4. The court schedules a trial within 14 days.

5. The court will deliver a verdict and determine a possible punishment. Russian law sets no time limit for a trial.

6. Upon delivery of a verdict, the prisoner may appeal the verdict, otherwise it comes into force.

Choice of court

In Russia, criminal cases are tried by district courts, while regional courts deal with particularly serious criminal cases and appeals from lower courts.  The court is normally chosen based on the location of the defendant in Russia.

If your case has any relation to Russian military forces, it may be tried by a regional military court.

Completion of investigations

While you’re on remand before the trial, the investigating authority examines the charges against you.

This can include:

• questioning you and the witnesses
• getting expert opinions
• getting police investigative summaries
• examining laboratory reports

The investigation is complete when the investigative authority passes the case file to the state prosecutor, and the prosecutor believe there is enough evidence to take you to trial.

Bill of indictment

If your case goes to trial, you will be given the bill of indictment. It will say:

• what you’re accused of
• which laws may have been broken
• what the evidence is.

Trial preparation hearing and opening proceedings

In Russia, when a criminal case comes to court, the judge may schedule a preliminary hearing or a trial. If you’re on remand, this is done within 14 days from the date when the court received the case. The judge or a party to the proceedings may request a preliminary hearing to be held.

A preliminary hearing may be scheduled if

• admissibility of certain evidence has been challenged
• there has been a request for a jury trial
• the case needs to be returned to the prosecution
• there are reasons for the criminal case to be suspended or terminated
• there is a need to separate or merge criminal cases

Preliminary hearings are not open to the public.

Trial

A trial takes place no sooner than 7 days from the date that you receive the bill of indictment and no later than 14 days from the date of the judge’s decision to hold a trial (30 days in the case of a jury trial). 

A trial may be held over several sessions. There is no limit to the duration of a trial.

Examination of evidence

At a trial, the judge can question witnesses and the affected party through videoconferencing, while you must be present in the courtroom. Those present in a court room have the right to make written records or audio-recoding. Filming or taking photographs can be done only with the prior permission of the judge.

Verdict

The court verdict is normally read at the final session, which is open to the public. In state-security-related cases, the public can only be present for the preliminary and the sentencing sections of the verdict.

Sentences

If you’re found guilty, you’ll be given a sentence. Your sentence will depend on how serious the crime is. Your lawyer can tell you what or how long your sentence might be.

Sentences can include:

• for civil offences: a warning, a fine, confiscation of a tool/object, victim compensation, revocation of right, expulsion, disqualification, short-term detention (up to 15 days), suspension of an activity, mandatory labour, prohibition to attend sporting events

• for criminal offences: a fine, confiscation of assets, victim compensation, prohibition from taking up occupation/position, mandatory labour, restraining order, imprisonment for period/life

You’re likely to be deported from Russia upon your release from prison, if deportation was not your sentence. You may be deported if the authorities decide that your stay in Russia is not in the public interest.

Deportation can be self-administered (you must leave by yourself within a set timeframe) or forced (you’re transferred from the courtroom to a state detention centre for foreign nationals and remain there until you’re escorted out of Russia). You will normally be deported to the UK, unless you also hold other nationalities.

You need to cover the cost of a self-administered deportation. The cost of forced deportation is normally covered by the Russian state, but the arrangements may take several months. If your family or friends buy you a ticket, this can substantially expedite your departure from Russia.

British Embassy Moscow can help you contact your family or friends to purchase your ticket to the UK and liaise with the authorities to forward your ticket to you.

Making an appeal

You, the state prosecution and the affected party may appeal a court verdict. The grounds for appeal may include excessive severity or leniency in sentence, fact-finding errors, and approval or dismissal of a party’s motion.

If no appeal has been lodged, the verdict comes into force.

How to appeal

You can make an appeal in Russia by submitting a written petition to the court that issued the initial verdict. Appeals can be filed by post, in person, or online through the official court system.

Ask your lawyer about the procedure for filing an appeal.

When you can appeal

You can make an appeal within

• 10 days in a civil case
• 15 days in a criminal case

from the date the verdict was given (for prisoners on remand – from the date they receive a copy of the verdict).

What happens when you appeal

An appeal will be heard within:

• 15 days from the date it was lodged, if made to a district court
• 30 days, if made to a regional court
• 45 days, if made to an appeal court of general jurisdiction or the Supreme Court

Even if the appeal is made with a view to reduce the original punishment, it may result in a harsher punishment.

At the end of the appeal

After the verdict has come into force, you and other parties to the proceedings may appeal the verdict again. In Russia the appeal you make at this stage is called a cassation appeal. The ground for cassation appeal is normally a breach of legal procedure during the initial trial or the appeal hearing.

The original judgement, the appeal or cassation decision will be reviewed, if

• new evidence comes to light
• a false statement was made by a witness or an expert during the trial
• a crime was committed by a party (including judges) during the proceedings

Prison conditions in Russia

In Russia prisoners serve their sentences in penal camps (исправительная колония) or prisons (тюрьма). There are several types of penal camps:

• penal settlements (колония-поселение)
• general camps (колония общего режима)
• high-security camps (колония строгого режима)
• special camps (колония особого режима)

Depending on your sentence and circumstances, 3 imprisonment regimes may apply within penal camps:

• standard
• flexible
• strict (enhanced security and restricted rights)

The court verdict sets the type of penal institution where a convicted person is to serve their sentence. The federal prison administration decides which penal facility a prisoner will be sent to.

The conditions in penitentiary institutions are affected by the poor state of prison facilities.

A Russian prison normally has a library, a medical unit, open air area for exercise, and work opportunities. Neither study opportunities nor Internet access are available.

Most Russian prisons are penal camps, where the prisoners are expected to work until they reach retirement age.

There are 8 prisons in Russia where prisoners convicted for the most serious crimes or sentenced for life are confined to cells.

Letters and packages

On remand, you may receive an unlimited number of posted and hand-delivered parcels, with a combined total weight of up to 30 kg per month. You can send and receive an unlimited number of letters by post.  

If you’re sentenced, the number of permitted parcels and their cumulative weight per year will depend on the type of your prison facility and your detention regime. It varies from 12 parcels (up to 20 kg each) and 12 small, posted packages (up to 5 kg each) for prisoners under flexible regime in general camps to 1 parcel and 1 small package for those under strict regime in special camps.

Your family or friends can send or hand deliver prescribed medicine and medical supplies to you in prison. These are not counted towards the above allocations.

You may order books or magazines to be delivered by the local licensed sellers. These will not be counted towards the above allocations.

Prison staff will inspect all parcels before they are handed over to you.

Prohibited items include drugs, alcohol and any toiletries containing it, weapons, drones, poisonous and radioactive substances, cash and other valuable items, mobile phones and other electronic devices, maps, photo and video cameras, pornographic and extremist materials, uncooked food. Any item which may potentially cause harm to a prisoner’s health, including self-inflicted harm, are forbidden (scarfs, shoelaces, notebooks bound by spiralled wire, berries and fruit which can be fermented).

You can send and receive an unlimited number of postcards and letters at your own expense. Some Russian prisons also have a facility for sending/receiving email messages.

When sending a letter or a parcel to you in prison in Russia, your family and friends need to make sure that the full address and name of the prison as well as your name and the date of birth are indicated, alongside the sender’s full name and address.

Russian Post is not always reliable, and posted items may not reach the recipient.

The British Embassy can assist with obtaining and verifying postal details for a British prisoner in Russia.

Stamps and stationery

You can buy stamps and stationery at a prison shop. Your family and friends can bring or sent them for you.

Checks on your mail

Prison authorities will open/read and censor all your incoming and outgoing mail. While they are required to release it within 7 working days, it may take longer.

Telephone calls

Telephone calls on remand

If you’re on remand, you can make a phone call only with a prior written permission from the investigator in charge of your case, or court. Duration of a call cannot exceed 15 minutes. You can make a call only at your own expense.

Telephone calls when sentenced

You can normally make both domestic and international phone calls, but international calls may not be possible due to the prison’s infrastructure limitations. If you have been subjected to a disciplinary action or are serving your sentence under the strict regime, you may be granted permission for a phone call only in exceptional circumstances.

The number of calls per prisoner is not limited, but prisons with insufficient phone line capacity may reduce the number of calls to 6 a year.

You need to register the numbers you wish to call with the prison administration. The length of each call cannot exceed 15 minutes.

You can make calls only through the prison land line.Your calls may be monitored by prison staff. The cost of calls can be charged to your personal account at the prison or covered from an account or calling card with the following service providers:

• ZonaTelecom
• FSINet

Your family or friends can top up your account or calling card using the above websites.

Medical and dental treatment

The Russian state should meet your basic medical needs while you’re imprisoned in Russia.

While you’re on remand or serving a prison sentence, you’re entitled to free medical services from the state providers, including psychiatric and dental services. Most healthcare providers do not speak English, and the quality of services and medicines may be below UK standards.

Each prison has doctors and nurses on staff. All prisoners are subject to periodic blood/urine lab tests and chest X-ray tests as well as assessments by a GP (general practitioner).

Emergency medical services are accessible 24 hours a day. If you’re having a medical emergency, you should call the guard for assistance. You can request a routine appointment with a prison healthcare specialist by making a record in the medical appointment journal normally held by the head of your ward.

The prison provides prescribed medication, which is usually manufactured locally. Family or friends can bring or send prescribed medicine to you in prison, but you can take it only under the direct observation of the prison medical personnel.

You may receive supplementary preventive medical services and treatment at your own expense, through a written request to the prison administration.

You can order glasses at your own expense or ask your family or friends to send them to you.

The British Embassy or Consulate General can try to make sure the prison authority knows about any medical or dental issues you have, if you want us to. We can also talk to your UK GP to help get your medical records sent to the prison.

Treatment for a new illness or condition

Speak to the prison administration if you need medical or dental treatment and submit the request as soon as possible.

Prison doctors are often similar to UK GPs. If you have a complex condition, you might be referred to a specialist outside the prison for tests and assessment. You might be transferred to a state hospital for prisoners if your condition cannot be treated in prison.

Drug and alcohol addiction

Prisons in Russia do not have a programme for prisoners with a drug or alcohol addiction.

Mental health care

Russian prisons have no psychologists or psychiatrists on staff. See the prison doctor as soon as possible if you feel you need treatment for your mental health, for example, if you have depression or anxiety. If your mental health requires in-patient treatment, you will be transferred to a psychiatric hospital.

Emergency trips outside prison

You can apply for an emergency trip outside prison within Russia if an urgent matter comes up, like a funeral or critical illness of a family member. You need to submit a written request for an emergency trip to the prison governor, who normally considers it within one day. If the governor allows the trip, you will need to cover the cost of the trip.

Food and diet

In Russian prisons, you receive 3 hot meals a day. The diet includes carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It is based on the calorific intake sufficient to sustain human health but tends to be bland and lacking fresh vegetables and fruits or dairy products.

Your family or friends can bring or send food to you, although there are multiple restrictions on what they can bring.

You can supplement your diet by buying food from a prison shop with the money from your prison account.

In Russian prisons, tap water is normally used for drinking, but the quality of water varies by region.

Special diets

In Russian prisons, no special diets are available for religious, lifestyle or health reasons. Prisoners with severe health issues or disabilities, adolescents and pregnant women are entitled to a more nutritious diet.

Prison shop

Russian prisons have prison shops, where you can buy extra food, toiletries, stamps and stationery. However, there is a limit to the amount of money you can spend each month, depending on your detention regime.

Showers and hygiene

Barracks or cells in Russian prisons normally have running cold water but may not have hot water. There is usually a schedule to take hot showers at a prison facility. Men can take a shower at least twice a week. Women can shower 3 times a week. The shower facilities are communal. Your bedding should be changed weekly.

Conditions in shower stalls and toilets vary by prison and may be substandard, particularly in older facilities.

The prison administration normally provides you with basic toiletries, including soap, toothpaste and toothbrush, toilet paper, shaving razors for men and hygiene supplies for women. Basic toiletries are normally available at prison shops.

Working in prison

Work is compulsory in most Russian prisons. Prisoners usually work on prison premises. The type of work is determined by the prison administration and may include manufacturing clothes or spare parts for machinery, wood processing, or work in the prison kitchen.

Due consideration should be given to your physical and mental capacity, age, and health conditions.

You can work even if you do not speak Russian. You’re paid for your work. The pay varies depending on the type and the amount of work done. Your living costs are deducted from your monthly pay, but at least 25% of your pay should be transferred to your prison account.

Working hours are normally 6 to 8 hours per day with a break for a hot meal, 5 or 6 days a week. The exact working schedule is set by the prison administration.

Working prisoners are entitled to annual leave from work of 12 working days.

The prison administration may request you to work for free repairing and renovating prison premises.

Books, languages, activities and study

In most Russian penal camps, contact with other inmates is not restricted, while it may be restricted in prisons or special camps. Contact with other inmates may also be restricted if you’re subjected to disciplinary actions.

You may or may not be put in a barrack or a cell with other English-speaking inmates. This depends on the goodwill of the prison administration and availability of space.

Prison guards are not required to speak a foreign language, including English. Prisons in Russia do not offer language classes for non-Russian speaking inmates.

Prisons normally have libraries, but the assortment of books may be limited, and it may not include books in foreign languages.

You might be able to order books in English from authorised vendors to be posted to you in prison. Books will be censored by the prison authority before being handed over, which may delay the arrival of the books to you. Check with the prison administration if you’re allowed to do this.

Access to mobile phones is prohibited in Russian prisons. You can make phone calls at your own expense using designated prison landlines. These may or may not allow international calls depending on the prison’s technical capacity.

You can watch television which is provided by the prison administration and shared by inmates. You cannot have your own TV or radio sets.

Russian prisons normally offer vocational training courses with a qualification. Prison administration can also support you to enrol in postal studies, where possible. You need to speak Russian to get enrolled in either. Enrolling in distance learning courses with a foreign institution or in a foreign language normally is not allowed.

If you enrol in studies, demonstrate good results at work and take part in social activities in prison, the prison authorities will reflect this positively on your record.

Exercise

In Russian penal camps, you’re permitted to go outdoors within the premises and move around during the day: to and from work - in a group accompanied by camp guards, or unaccompanied during your free time. You’re not allowed to leave your barracks at night.

Movement is restricted for prisoners in special camps and prisons, and for those serving time under strict regime or subjected to disciplinary actions. Prisoners under strict regime are allowed an hour-long walk at a specially designated outdoor area.

Depending on their type and infrastructure, prisons may have sport facilities available to prisoners and organise regular group exercises for them.

Clothing

The prison will provide you with clothing appropriate to the time of year you’re in prison. You must wear prison uniform the whole time. In winter, you can wear your own warm underwear underneath the uniform.

You may be able to buy clothing in the prison shop. Your family and friends can send or bring clothes to you in prison.

Clothing and shoes with metal buttons and zips, military style clothing, belts, shoelaces, braces, ties, luxury items and face-covering clothing are not allowed in Russian prisons. Check with your prison authority for more details.

Religion

You’re free to take part in religious services of your choice or refrain from any religious activities. You’re allowed to have religious items and conduct religious ceremonies. Religious books in languages other than Russian may not be allowed.

You can have an unlimited number of individual meetings with a clergyman of your choice up to 2 hours each. Normally, a prison member of staff is present at such meetings. If requested by you and agreed by the clergyman, the meeting can be held so prison staff can observe but not listen.

Prison administration allows onto prison premises only the representatives from the officially registered religions. There are no religious ministers on staff in prisons in Russia.

Mobile phones

Access to mobile phones is prohibited in Russian prisons. You may be subjected to disciplinary action if you’re caught with one.

Transferring to another prison

Transferring to a prison in the UK

The UK and Russia do not have a prisoner transfer agreement so you cannot apply to transfer to a prison in the UK.

Transferring to a prison in Russia

Normally you will serve your entire prison term in one penal institution.

Transfer to another prison within Russia may be possible:

• as a sentence remission
• if there is a threat to your safety and wellbeing
• if there is substantial deterioration of your health, requiring medical intervention
• in case of a natural or a man-made disaster
• at your request for transfer to a penal institution in the Russian region where your family lives (possible only once throughout the sentence term)

Early release

You can sometimes have your sentence reduced, especially if you’re a first-time offender. Clemency or pardon is possible in some rare cases.

Reduction of sentence (remission)

In Russia, you may be able to get early release on parole for good behaviour and compensation of losses or damages to the affected party. The decision is made by the court, which will set the conditions to be observed for the remainder of the initial sentence.

You may request a release on parole having served at least one-third of your sentence (in case you were sentenced for a minor or medium level offence), at least half of the sentence (a major crime), or two-thirds of the sentence (a particularly serious crime), amongst others. You would have to serve the prison sentence of at least 6 months.

Clemency or pardon

In Russia, only the President can grant clemency. You can apply for clemency by submitting a request to the Russian President through the prison administration.

There is also a custom of granting amnesty to prisoners sentenced for minor or medium offences on the most significant dates in Russia’s history, but these are rare.

Financial penalties

Financial penalties may be all or part of your sentence. A prison sentence may be substituted with court fines in case of a minor or medium offence, and if the offender has compensated the losses or repaired the damages to the affected party.

Release and deportation

You can contact the British Embassy or Consulate if you need help when you’re released.

When you’re released, you will be given any money from your prison account as well as your belongings.

Deportation

It is usual for foreigners who committed offences to be deported from Russia after they have completed their sentence. If you’re to be deported, you will be transferred from prison to a state detention centre for foreigners, where you will remain until you leave Russia. Although your stay at a detention centre should not exceed 6 months, delays are possible.

You may be able to contest your deportation in a local court.

Flights to the UK

Once the deportation is approved the police will book your flight to the UK. This can sometimes take a long time to be arranged. You or your family or friends can book your flight to expedite your departure from Russia.

Your passport will be stamped to show you have been deported. You may not be able to return to Russia.

Getting a passport

Make sure your British passport is still valid. Contact the British Embassy or Consulate before you’re released if you need an emergency passport for your journey home.

Useful Russian words and phrases

Important phrases

• I would like to see a doctor / Мне нужен врач
• I would like to contact the consulate / Мне нужно связаться с консульством
• I would like to contact my lawyer / Мне нужно связаться с моим адвокатом

English	Russian
hello	здравствуйте
good morning	доброе утро
good day/afternoon	добрый день
good evening	добрый вечер
good night (i.e. sleep well)	спокойной ночи
good-bye	до свидания
yes	да
no	нет
thank you	спасибо
please/you’re welcome	пожалуйста
excuse me/ sorry	извините
may I…?	можно

Useful legal terms

English	Russian
law	закон
detainee	задержанный
charged	обвиняемый
defence lawyer	адвокат/ защитник
prosecutor	прокурор
convicted	осужденный
bail	залог
custody	содержание под стражей
undertaking not to leave	подписка о невыезде
bill of indictment	обвинительное заключение
court	суд
judge	судья
jury	присяжные
witness	свидетель
translator	переводчик
fine	штраф
defendant	обвиняемый
penalty	наказание
affected person	пострадавший
remand prison	следственный изолятор (СИЗО)
camp	колония
prison	тюрьма
release on parole	условно- досрочное освобождение (УДО)
consent	согласие
clemency	помилование
appeal	апелляция
expulsion	высылка
deportation	депортация

Numbers

Number	Russian
1	один
2	два
3	три
4	четыре
5	пять
6	шесть
7	семь
8	восемь
9	девять
10	десять
11	одиннадцать
12	двенадцать
13	тринадцать
14	четырнадцать
15	пятнадцать
20	двадцать
25	двадцать пять
30	тридцать
100	сто

Food

English	Russian
beetroot	свекла
cabbage	капуста
carrot	морковь
onion	лук
potatoes	картофель
garlic	чеснок
apple	яблоко
orange	апельсин
banana	банан
meat	мясо
beef	говядина
pork	свинина
chicken	курица
sausage	колбаса
fish	рыба
bread	хлеб
white (wheat)	белый
rye	черный
fresh	свежий
bun, roll	булочка
cake	пирог
jam	варенье
mayonnaise	майонез
ketchup	кетчуп
noodles	макароны
rice	рис
salt	соль
pepper	перец
flour	мука
sugar	сахар
water	вода
fizzy	с газом
still	без газа
milk	молоко
tea	чай
coffee	кофе
juice	сок
Cottage cheese	творог
yoghurt	йогурт
sour cream	сметана
cheese	сыр
butter	сливочное масло
vegetable oil	растительное масло