Memoir authored by one of the defendants in the trial of the group who protested in Red Square the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Soviet Army.
Russia
Gessen (2014), Words Will Break Cement: The Passion of Pussy Riot
A journalistic account of Pussy Riot’s arrest and trial, arguing that their lawyers prioritized self-promotion over defending their clients.
Butler (2011), The Russian Legal Practitioner
Tracks the evolution of the legal profession in Russia. Includes a translation of the post-Soviet law on the legal profession.
Hendley and Solomon, Jr. (2024), The Judicial System of Russia
Overview of the Russian courts. Includes chapters dealing with political cases and the legal profession.
Kaminskaya (1982), Final Judgment: My Life as a Soviet Defense Attorney
Memoir of defense lawyer who was active during the 1960s. She shares her experiences representing prominent Soviet dissidents and the extent to which the bar association supported her.
‘Did Not Push Hard Enough’: Navalny Lawyer Speaks of Regrets
In a powerful and emotional interview with The Moscow Times, Olga Mikhailova, longtime lawyer of the late Alexei Navalny, reflects on her regrets and the devastating aftermath of his decision to return to Russia in …
Defending Human Rights in Russia Feels Hopeless. But I Still Do It
In this deeply personal piece for The Moscow Times, journalist and researcher Dan Storyev reflects on the emotional toll and moral imperative of working for OVD-Info, a leading Russian human rights watchdog. Amid a tightening …
I Am Navalny’s Lawyer. I Won’t Let Fear Stop My Work
In this Moscow Times opinion piece, Russian lawyer Leonid Solovyov shares his personal account of defending Alexei Navalny amidst an increasingly repressive legal climate. Following the arrest of three of Navalny’s lawyers and the exile …
Open Letter to my Russian Friends: Ukraine is Not Crimea
On EJIL:Talk!, Alain Pellet reflects on his resignation as counsel for Russia before the International Court of Justice, prompted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While distinguishing the 2014 Crimea situation—where he believes the population …
Introducing ‘Department One’ – Exiled human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov launches new legal group to take on Russia’s treason and espionage cases
In an article for Meduza, exiled Russian human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov announces the launch of Pervy Otdel (“Department One”), a new legal initiative dedicated to defending individuals accused of treason, espionage, and other state …