Hendley argues that despite political interference in high-profile cases, ordinary Russians do engage with the legal system in everyday disputes, revealing a more nuanced and pragmatic relationship with the law than commonly assumed.
Russia
Smith (1978), The Soviet Procuracy and the Supervision of Administration
Monograph analyzing the evolution and role of prosecutors in the Soviet Union.
Kucherov (1953), Courts, Lawyers and Trials under the Last Three Tsars
A historical look at the 19th-century Russian legal profession, highlighting anarchist trials and how lawyers used jury nullification to win acquittals.
Litvinov (1972),The Trial of the Four
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.
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 …