Released from prison

• On release day, make sure you get your release certificate, passport, money from your prison account and medical records. Ask whether administrative supervision has been imposed and request a copy of the court decision listing the restrictions.
• After 'terrorism' and 'extremism' convictions (arts. 205-205.5, 282-282.3 CC and several others) the court imposes administrative supervision regardless of behaviour in the colony (art. 3 of Law 64-FZ). It usually lasts until the conviction is spent, which means years.
• Many remain on the Rosfinmonitoring list: banks block transactions; the law allows receiving wages and pensions and spending them within the minimum wage per month for themselves and each dependent (27,093 roubles in 2026; the old 10,000 limit was abolished on 1 June 2025).
• Since 2025 post-release probation exists: on a written request to the colony or probation office you can get help with documents, housing, work and medical care.
• If you are thinking of leaving: a conviction, supervision or the list can block exit. Leaving without permission while under supervision can be treated as evading supervision (art. 314.1 CC), so get advice before heading for the border. Solidarity Zone (foreign agent), Memorial (designated 'extremist' in Russia) and First Department (foreign agent) help; psychologists: First Line.
• The court chooses the restrictions: reporting to the police 1 to 4 times a month (always imposed), a ban on leaving home at night, on visiting certain places and mass events, and on leaving the district or region (Law 64-FZ, art. 4).
• Deadlines under supervision. After release you must reach your chosen place of residence by the date the colony set and register with the police within 3 working days. A move must be reported at least 3 working days in advance, and a new job or dismissal within 3 working days (Law 64-FZ, art. 11).
• Breaking the restrictions can lead to a fine or up to 15 days' administrative arrest (art. 19.24 CAO). A criminal case, with up to 1 year in prison, is possible if you fail to arrive at your place of residence or leave it without permission to evade supervision, or for repeated breaches combined with other offences (art. 314.1 CC). By law you can appeal the supervision decision and later ask the court to lift some restrictions or end supervision early (art. 10 of Law 64-FZ). In practice it is better to do this with a lawyer.
• On release, ask for an extract from your medical record. By law copies of medical documents are issued on written request (Law 323-FZ, art. 22). You need the extract for treatment, a complaint about conditions and asylum. If it is not given, request it through a lawyer. Compensation for poor conditions in pre-trial detention or a colony can be claimed in court (art. 227.1 of the Code of Administrative Procedure), best with a lawyer.
• Many people find life after prison hard: sleeplessness, anxiety, difficulty being around others. First Line (anonymous, by chat) and Nora (psychologist or psychiatrist sessions for political prisoners and their families) help for free. If there was violence in custody, contact the Committee Against Torture Foundation. We did not find a dedicated programme for released political prisoners in Russia.
• Sometimes a new case is opened shortly before release and the person is moved to a SIZO instead of being freed: according to OVD-Info (designated 'extremist'), by February 2026 there were at least 41 such prisoners. If your relative is not released on the due date or is taken away, tell the lawyer and rights groups at once.

Designations of organisations in this guide: OVD-Info (foreign agent, extremist, on Rosfinmonitoring list); Memorial Human Rights Defence Centre (extremist, on Rosfinmonitoring list); Memorial Political Prisoners Support (extremist, on Rosfinmonitoring list). Contacting them carries a risk: do not write from a phone that may be seized, and do not repost their materials.

current as of 7 October 2026. More: First Department: life after prison (probation) (foreign agent); First Department: the list of 'terrorists and extremists' (foreign agent); ConsultantPlus: Law 64-FZ on administrative supervision (in Russian); ConsultantPlus: art. 314.1 of the Criminal Code (in Russian); ConsultantPlus: Law 323-FZ, art. 22 (in Russian); Novaya Gazeta Europe: new cases against people already serving sentences (27 Feb 2026) (undesirable)