Law as a Tool to Counter Political Coercion. What Shall Russian Citizens Know About Their Rights in Case of Criminal Prosecution in the EU?

The EU restrictive measures, causing damage to the Russian economy, have suspended political interaction. Economic entities receive state aid and have already tailored to the new conditions. Russian citizens and fellow citizens, who stay in the EU countries and may not always reckon upon the urgent assistance of the Russian Federation owing to this reason, are the most vulnerable in this situation. The report “On Violations of the Rights of Russian Citizens and Fellow Citizens in Foreign Countries”, submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation in the middle of 2022, indicates the “overwhelming discrimination of Russians”, which “was shocking by its absurdity” – that is where the rights of Russians are violated by the “collective West” on a large scale. The report provides information on the numerous recorded facts of the violations in most Member States of the European Union. Russian citizens, against whom criminal prosecution has been initiated, are especially in a precarious position. The article was designed to include information and analysis data, through which Russian citizens as well as fellow citizens could have obtained better protection of their rights in the EU countries. For this reason, the analysis of the relevant provisions of the EU law and the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms was conducted. Furthermore, the attainability of the right to interpretation and translation, the right to information on rights and information about the charges, the right to legal advice and legal aid, so as the right to communicate with relatives, employers and consular authorities in criminal proceedings was scrutinized. The European Court of Human Rights case-law was examined to denote major rules governing compensatory nature and quality of legal counsel and translation services. Certain recommendations, which Russian citizens may find helpful in terms of protection of their rights when facing criminal prosecution in the EU Member States, were laid down in conclusion of the present Article, which is especially relevant in terms of the unprecedented political pressure the West puts on Russia.

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