Step	Action	Legal Justification (CPC/Constitution)
1. Verification of Grounds	Do not panic. Demand that the persons who arrived present a ruling of the investigating judge authorizing the search and their service IDs. Verify the address and surnames.	Art. 234 CPC of Ukraine. A search without a proper ruling is illegal.
2. Calling a Lawyer	Immediately call a lawyer. You have the right to demand waiting for their arrival. Do not allow the investigative action to begin until the defender arrives.	Art. 236, Art. 46 CPC of Ukraine. The search must be conducted only in the presence of a defender.
3. Voluntary Handover	If you decide to hand over an item that is clearly specified in the court ruling, you may do so. This may prevent a full search of all premises.	Art. 237 CPC of Ukraine. Voluntary handover may be grounds for discontinuing the further search.
4. Protecting Your Phone	DO NOT voluntarily hand over your mobile phone (and other electronic devices). Only items specified in the ruling can be seized. Separate permission is required to access information on devices.	Art. 160-162 CPC of Ukraine. Information is protected property.
5. Right to Silence	Do not answer any questions without a lawyer. Remember: you are not obliged to testify against yourself, family members, or close relatives.	Art. 63 Constitution of Ukraine. Your constitutional right.
6. Involving Witnesses	Verify that there are two disinterested witnesses. If they are absent, demand their involvement. They must be external persons.	Art. 236, Art. 104 CPC of Ukraine. Mandatory condition for the legality of the search.
7. Documentation and Protocol	Closely monitor every action. Demand that each seized item be described in detail (serial numbers, color, quantity) in the protocol.	Art. 104, Art. 105 CPC of Ukraine.
8. Copy of Protocol	After the search, carefully read the protocol. In the "Comments" section, be sure to list all violations of your rights found. Demand a copy of the protocol!	Art. 104, Art. 236 CPC of Ukraine.

Step	Action	Why this is needed (Critical Factor)
1. Lawyer Register	Be sure to check for the lawyer's presence in the Unified Register of Lawyers of Ukraine (ERAU).	Guarantees that the specialist has a license to practice and is subject to disciplinary accountability.
2. Google Search	Enter the lawyer's surname into Google and view the first two pages of results.	Shows high-profile cases, mentions in the media, public speeches, or, conversely, negative publications.
3. Facebook Check	Find the lawyer's or company's profile on Facebook (or other social networks).	Helps assess public activity, expertise, communication style, and professional environment.
4. Refusal of "Guarantees"	Beware of lawyers who guarantee a 100% successful court outcome.	No honest lawyer can guarantee a result, as it depends on the court and the prosecution. This is a sign of dishonesty.
5. Bribe Offer	If the lawyer immediately offers to "resolve the issue for money" (give a bribe).	This is a direct sign of fraud and corruption. Such a lawyer exposes the client to criminal liability. Immediately cease cooperation.
6. Written Agreement	Insist on a detailed written agreement clearly outlining the services and fee.	Protects your rights, fixes the scope of work, and prevents hidden payments.
The most important! Check experience!	Go to the Register of Court Decisions, enter the lawyer's surname in the Search by Context section, and find court decisions in which this lawyer participated.	To ensure that the lawyer has extensive experience in obtaining positive decisions specifically in your category of cases.

Step	Action	Legal Rights (Articles)
1. Demand for Grounds	Ask under which law you are being detained and of what exactly you are suspected. Detention without explanation is illegal.	Art. 29 Constitution, Art. 104, Art. 208 CPC of Ukraine.
2. Right to Silence	Give no testimony or explanations until the lawyer arrives. Refer to Art. 63 of the Constitution of Ukraine.	Refusal to testify cannot be used against you (Art. 63 Constitution).
3. Calling a Defender	Immediately demand a lawyer be provided to you. If you do not have your own, the state is obliged to provide you with a free defender.	Art. 209, Art. 213 CPC of Ukraine.
4. Informing Relatives	Demand that your relatives be immediately informed of your detention, or the lawyer chosen by you.	Art. 213 CPC of Ukraine.
5. Time Limit	You must be brought before the investigating judge no later than 60 hours from the moment of detention.	Art. 211 CPC of Ukraine.
6. Detention Protocol	Carefully read the protocol. If there are violations — be sure to indicate this in the "Comments" section and sign.	Art. 209, Art. 104 CPC of Ukraine.

I. Cherezov's blog on Liga-blogs". Article - "Kit for 'scamming' a client for money by 'fixer lawyers'" Read on Liga-blogs".

Kit for scamming clients by "fixer lawyers"

In the legal services market, there are quite a few people with lawyer IDs whose main source of income is "scamming" clients, frightened by criminal prosecution. These "colleagues" inflict significant damage on our legal profession, p

We often hear stories about how clients, frightened by criminal prosecution, are "scammed" out of money by fraudsters with lawyer IDs. Undoubtedly, there are many such unfortunate defenders, and almost all lawyers who handle criminal cases have encountered similar "colleagues." It's good if the client quickly realized and changed their defender from a "fixer" to a lawyer. It's worse if the case is already heavily "messed up," and the client relied only on "resolving the issue." Then the lawyer has to urgently build a defense strategy, gather evidence, conduct examinations, file motions in court, and so on. I want to share some stories heard from our clients, slightly systematizing the most common tricks used by "fixers"...

So, it happened! The threat of criminal prosecution looms, or, even worse—law enforcement agencies apprehended you and served a notice of suspicion of committing a criminal offense.

It is understandable that people in this situation are in a state of slight, or not so slight, shock. And then, inevitably, a character must appear who is certain to "fix everything." He can appear from anywhere: a friend might recommend him, having met a cheerful eccentric at a party who claimed to be a lawyer and left his phone number; a kind and understanding investigator might suggest him; or a business card might be found in the pocket of worn trousers, personally handed over by a person claiming to be a great specialist in law at some seminar or forum in an expensive hotel.

What happens next, I will briefly describe:

Firstly, after reviewing your case—regardless of its nature or the article of the criminal code—he will definitely say that "everything is lost" and there is virtually no chance of remaining free. BUT! He happens to have old friendly relations with prosecutors, up to the Prosecutor General, knows the investigator well, and is practically related to the chief of investigation because they served together in the construction battalion. Therefore, a small chance still exists... But it is very complicated... and expensive... plus the risks...

Secondly, at the start, your "defender" will definitely offer to "pay money to relieve the tension." This phrase and trick are old as the hills but still work. What "relieving the tension" means is not disclosed. Whether it's buying a voltmeter to measure voltage in the network, going to a sauna with the prosecutor to relax, or sending the investigator to Truskavets to treat constipation—this usually remains a mystery. But the amount for "relieving the tension" is usually enough for the entire set of joys I listed. This scam is very convenient because there is no understanding of when the money is "earned." The pseudo-defender will receive them and happily inform the client: "That's it, the tension is relieved!" Meaning, "let's start exploring your budget further." Everything is perfect in this formula: the client believes that "the tension is relieved," although he doesn't understand how, but the main thing is that things are improving, and the fixer happily understands that the money will not have to be returned under any circumstances. Even when the time comes to replace the "fixer" with a lawyer, the "electrician" who relieved the tension will surely say that he handed the money directly "there," didn't keep a penny, and even spent money on gas to deliver the funds...

The next stage of getting money from a client who is not yet fully "milked" is the fixer's standard phrase—"pay money for the investigator's loyal attitude." As with "relieving the tension," this formula contains unknowns. What "the investigator's loyal attitude" means is usually explained by a lengthy phrase, the meaning of which only a professor of philosophy can understand. I have encountered cases in my practice where a suspect paid for "the investigator's loyal attitude" and spent a year in a pre-trial detention centre. At the same time, the detainee himself was genuinely convinced that the investigator treated him loyally: offered coffee, allowed smoking in the office despite the boss's disapproval, and didn't "pin" new episodes on him, like "the assassination of Kennedy." The size of the "loyal attitude" varies depending on the financial capabilities of the frightened client.

There will definitely be a scheme: "dark forces ordered you." The fixer rushes to court and, oh, miracle! negotiated a change in the preventive measure. It's expensive, but guaranteed! And then, suddenly, the court, completely unaware of any negotiation, DOES NOT change the preventive measure! This is when the mode turns on: "At the last moment, the judge received a call 'from above' and changed his mind because 'you were definitely ordered!'" This mode can be activated even for a hooligan who urinated under the police station door or a tractor driver who drunkenly drove into a neighbour's cowshed and scared the neighbour's cow into having diarrhea. Naturally, one must "leave a few pennies for the judge for the trouble." The judge was troubled! And if the court changes the preventive measure on its own, or partially grants the prosecutor's motion, it is clear that the "fixer" should not return anything because "the issue is resolved".

Everything I have told is just a small part of the schemes used by fraudsters with lawyer IDs to "scam" clients out of money.

In reality, you need to understand that for most articles of the criminal code, bail is provided as an alternative to arrest. The bail amount is, as a rule, many times less than the amounts offered "to relieve the tension" or for "the investigator's loyal attitude."

Furthermore, you should know that both the investigator and the prosecutor can change at any stage. Therefore, from the very beginning, it is best to focus on building defense tactics and strategy and not rely on a familiar taxi driver who gave a ride to a crony who knew a man who had a phone number to arrange a meeting with an assistant prosecutor. From the very beginning of criminal prosecution, you must understand that the case will, in any event, be considered in court. And you should prepare precisely for the court proceedings of the criminal case. Of course, if you are interested in the result, rather than the illusion of "closing the case before trial." This is also possible, BUT! only if a planned defense is conducted and the lawyer works precisely as a defender, and not as a money collector.

I hope my light-hearted essay will make those who are currently "relieving the tension" in hope of a "fixer" think, and believe me, the sooner a true defender enters the case, the cheaper, and most importantly, the better it will be for the successful resolution of the problem.

I. Cherezov's blog on Liga-blogs". Read on Liga-blogs".

Kit for scamming clients for money. "Cards, Money, Two Balls" or "The Gypsies Rode"

A second article on the topic of dishonesty among some lawyers. This article is for those who want to avoid problems when choosing a defender.

A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog on the topic of client scams used by some dishonest lawyers. It turned out to be quite popular and read by a huge number of people.

The number of views clearly indicates that this is a relevant topic for many. Or maybe some decided to use it as an instruction manual for working with clients. I still hope that my observations have been useful to potential clients of lawyers and have protected them from dealing with unscrupulous representatives of our rather difficult profession.

Today I will talk about three schemes used by individuals with a lawyer's ID. Moreover, there are individuals who use two, or even three at once, and sometimes combine all three.

The Gypsy Fortune Teller: "You need to run."

So, a lawyer who has gained some experience begins to understand that in order to start earning money in the field of defense, he needs to work: sit for hours at interrogations, read tons of case files, write procedural documents, and participate in court sessions. This is, frankly, boring.

He wants a "million" right away. How? Imagine a criminal case concerning an economic crime. Possibly there is not even a suspicion yet, but the citizen knows that an investigation is underway, for example, after a search at his place, and, understandably, he is worried because he does not quite understand what is happening and what he needs to do next. He starts asking for advice from one person, then another.

If the client is wealthy, he will definitely encounter some shaggy uncle who will speak lengthy and incoherent speeches like Golokhvastov from the movie "Chasing Two Rabbits." And the client, frightened by criminal prosecution, might think, like Pronya Prokopovna's father, that he is facing a lawyer who is "terribly smart." It's just that he doesn't understand what this "beacon of jurisprudence" is telling him with his own mind.

In fact, it is indeed a rambling nonsense, the main goal of which, like a persistent gypsy on the street, is to instill fear in the client and create an aura of a seer who has a large magic ball, even two balls: in one, he sees a cunning conspiracy being woven against the interlocutor, and he clearly sees that the most powerful forces in the country, political parties, neighbours in the dacha plot, ex-wives and mistresses, general heads of almost all law enforcement agencies, the CIA, NABU, GPU, and even a little bit of the American embassy are involved in this conspiracy. And in the second ball, he sees the client sitting. Sometimes on the ocean shore, and sometimes in prison. Such is the ball... with signal interference from space. But the picture will definitely be exclusively rosy if the seer is well and regularly fed, both literal and figuratively. Understandably, not at his own expense.

The representatives of the Gypsies in such cases say: "Gild my hand, dear, and I will tell you the whole truth." And naive and insecure clients gild the hand. And the gypsy or gypsy from the legal profession continues to "see" clearly in the style of Golokhvastov for a long time.

And after some time, the second, important stage begins: the client must definitely stop communicating with other lawyers. Because at some point, it might dawn on him that he is not dealing with the Dalai Lama, but with a common scammer.

How to limit the client from communicating with those who can actually help him? Like this: scratching his magic balls, the know-it-all gives the client the only possible option: "You need to run from the country." And if the client "falls for it"—That's it! Bingo! The one who left for years becomes the breadwinner for this Golokhvastov-Gypsy. The runaway has no choice but to regularly pay fees for cleaning the balls, flights for face-to-face meetings with the wizard, and hope that his case will be closed soon. On its own.

At the same time, the mentioned shaggy scammer will do everything possible to ensure that the proceedings drag on for years. Because that is his income. And he doesn't need to do much: just delay as much as possible—and that's it.

In reality, most suspects in official or economic crimes are granted a preventive measure not involving detention. But even if it happens, the practice is that the arrest is replaced by a softer preventive measure after a short period of time.

You might say: but there is a risk of being subjected to a preventive measure—detention or a huge bail amount! Absolutely. But here you have to choose: either the possible risk of spending some time in a pre-trial detention center, achieving a change of the preventive measure to one not involving detention, and further proving your innocence, appearing in court on your own two feet, which will certainly not be swift.

Even in the High Anti-Corruption Court, which everyone was so afraid of, cases are considered for years. The second option is to believe the Gypsies, wander from country to country, and, in the end, certainly be imprisoned in an "Intourist" pre-trial detention center in a foreign land, extradited, spend time in a detention center in Ukraine, and certainly receive a guilty verdict. Because everyone, especially the judges, will be convinced that "if he ran away, he is definitely guilty."

But the Gypsies of the legal profession do not see such a prospect in their balls, because it does not bring monthly income and the opportunity to wander the world at someone else's expense.

The most talented professionals in "scamming" clients for money combine "You need to run" with another method—

"The Turnip. We pull and pull, but cannot proceed."

So, the little defender planted his wealthy client abroad. The client has become a cash cow, and a record holder for milk yield, because the fugitive is afraid to refuse the great and powerful Golokhvastov. As a rule, the scammers in the previous and this example have few clients. One or two are enough for them to live comfortably, eat well, and travel.

Now it is important that the "cow stays in the stall" and does not think of running home, because according to our legislation, first there is just a summons to court, and there is no guarantee that the court will choose detention as a preventive measure. And that's a risk that the client "wakes up," hires a normal lawyer, and might even file a lawsuit against the former lawyer for loss of breadwinner.

In practice, there are cases where the "milker" intentionally submits documents to the court in such a way that even a loyal court declares the person who left the country wanted. To, so to speak, certainly fix the client's body in the place of his protracted "tourism." For example, he "forgets" to tell the client that he needs to register at the consulate, and instead provides the court with documents stating that the client lives in some bungalow.

It must be said that the "turnip method" is also used by unscrupulous lawyers in cases where the client does not understand that the volumes of "evidence" submitted by his defender are evidence only that the defender needs money. Or that he hates nature and destroys trees for paper containing legal gibberish.

Both in the case of "emigration" initiated by the defender and in the case of delaying the process for the sake of the fee, the "milker" of the legal profession floods the court with heaps of motions, complaints, clarifications on explanations, and explanations on clarifications. He appeals to all possible instances—from the ZhEK (housing office) to the UN, from the local policeman to the bar self-governance bodies. He attaches responses from all organizations to his inquiries as "irrefutable evidence" of something.

Naturally, the court simply cannot proceed to the merits of the case because it is not beneficial to the Gypsies who are scamming the client who fell under their influence.

I had a case in my practice where the lawyer of one of the accused filed a motion and, in the "requesting" part, asked the court to fully read the many letters of this document—that's one, but not to grant the motion itself—that's two. When the court asked, "Why did you file it?" he replied, "That's my strategy for defending the client."

It is clear that the court began to consider conducting a psychiatric examination of the defender and recognized the submission of such documents as an abuse of right.

As a rule, such "strategists" poorly understand the essence of the criminal proceedings in which they are supposed to defend the client. Their main goal is to keep any case under consideration for as long as possible.

Of course, the strategy and tactics of each case are individual, and sometimes it is simply necessary to "slow down the pace" set by the court, which has clearly sided with the prosecution. But this can only be a small part of the overall defense strategy, and not the main doctrine—"pull until it breaks." And it will break. The court's patience. And all motions, even those that are genuinely important, will "drown" in procedural garbage and will, naturally, be considered by the court only as another attempt to delay the process.

And the result for the client is obvious: huge funds spent, the case is not considered on its merits, the court hates the accused, even if it doesn't show it. And our happy Golokhvastov is cheerful, well-fed, and looking for someone else on whom to apply another scamming method—

"We are working here. People are aware."

It is understandable that being under criminal prosecution is psychologically difficult. And any sane person desires to "get away with it" as quickly as possible. This desire is usually exploited by mysterious, yet shrewd-eyed like Lenin, scammers.

Almost all clients, even those who fall under the scrutiny of NABU, hope that the lawyer is precisely the person who not only knows the law but is also capable of "fixing things" to have the case closed. And such a person, if sought long enough, will certainly appear. The only thing is that he is not going to fix anything. And clients "gild the hand" and believe.

Sometimes it reaches complete absurdity, bordering on nonsense.

For example. One of my acquaintances was offered by such a "lawyer" the exclusion from the NSDC sanctions list for a lot of money. He claimed that "people are aware," "he has negotiated everywhere," "he has the exclusive right to resolve this issue," everyone is waiting for the money and is ready to amend the decision on personal sanctions. He offered it for a week. He begged for an advance—half of the "lot of money."

And if the distraught, yet still wealthy, "unsanctioned" person had agreed, then one of many versions would have been activated: "I gave everything away, didn't keep a penny for myself, I don't know if it will be possible to exclude him from this sanctions list, but they definitely won't include him in another." Or: "Yes, everything is agreed upon, but now there is a need to wait a little for the right appointment of one respectable person to replace another respectable person." Or: "Damn it! Everything was signed, but someone leaked the information, someone called from a very star-spangled embassy, and people even gave away their own money so they wouldn't be included in the next sanctions list."

My acquaintance blocked this "fixer" everywhere and told me this story as an example of how people try to "scam."

Naturally, the fraudster will never say that "it's not working out." His task is to assure the client of his vast connections and capabilities and stall for time. And then either "the Emir or the donkey will die."

You should know that "fixing things" practically doesn't work. Unfortunately, sometimes the desire to get rid of problems quickly prevails over common sense. And you need to understand that if someone, somewhere, sometimes closes or, conversely, opens a criminal case without grounds, sooner or later this "house of cards" will collapse, and that's when there will truly be problems that will need to be solved for a long time and expensively.

How to protect yourself from Golokhvastov-Gypsies? It has become easy now: just go to the open registries of the judiciary, open the link to search "case status," enter the lawyer's surname, and see what court cases, during the merits of the case, the defender offering his services has participated in.

If the lawyer is experienced, look at the verdicts over the last five to ten years where the surname of the self-promoting defender is listed. Of course, it's good if these verdicts are also acquittals. But if the lawyer practices more than ten years, and the verdicts in which he is listed as a lawyer are few, there is reason to seriously consider whether it is worth connecting your hopes for solving your problems with him. Because only a practicing lawyer can give practical advice. And if other people have entrusted their fate to a person who has gone through the long and complex path of criminal prosecution with them, it means he deserves trust.

Of course, similar "fixers" cause serious damage to the prestige and authority of our difficult craft. That is why I describe these cases to protect people from falling under the influence of the few, but existing, Golokhvastov-Gypsies.

I must say that lawyers often handle extremely complex cases pro bono because the client has already been "milked" by an unscrupulous pseudo-defender. They do it because they genuinely love their craft first, and only then the benefits it provides.

Any resemblance to real people is coincidental. Most lawyers honestly perform their duty.

I hope my "notes from life" will be useful to you, and you will be able to avoid excessive expenses and troubles.

Is a search legal if the lawyer has not yet arrived?

No. According to Art. 236 of the CPC of Ukraine, the search of a person's home or other possession is carried out only in the presence of a defender or a lawyer engaged by the owner. If the defender cannot arrive within a reasonable time, the investigator has the right to conduct the search without them, but in this case, all obtained evidence may be deemed inadmissible by the court. You have the right to demand waiting for your lawyer's arrival.

What to do if the investigator seized a phone without a ruling?

The seizure of a mobile phone, laptop, or other electronic information carriers without clear specification of these devices in the court ruling on the search is illegal. Immediately, but calmly, demand that the search protocol states that the seizure was carried out without voluntary handover and without separate permission for access to information. This will give the lawyer grounds to challenge the evidence.

Do I have the right to film everything during the search on my personal mobile phone?

Yes, this is your right, and it is not explicitly prohibited by the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine (CPC). However, the investigator (prosecutor) may try to prevent this, citing that it interferes with the conduct of investigative actions.

Important! If the investigators believe that your phone is material evidence or a means of committing a crime, they may seize it. In such a case, demand that the fact of your video recording, the demand to stop it, as well as the fact of the phone's seizure itself, be absolutely detailed in the search protocol. This is the only way to later challenge the legality of the seizure.

🚨 What is the difference between detention and summoning?

Detention is deprivation of liberty for up to 72 hours on suspicion of committing a crime (Art. 208 CPC). It requires clear legal grounds. Summoning (or bring-in) is forced escort to a state body (for example, to serve a subpoena), which is not an arrest. You have fewer rights during summoning, but it must be immediate. Remember: upon detention, you have the right to silence and a defender; upon summoning, demand an explanation of the reasons and immediately call a lawyer.

🔍 How to find out if a person is wanted?

There are two main public registries. You can check the information on the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) or on the Prosecutor General's portal. Usually, entering the surname, first name, and patronymic is sufficient for verification. If the person is internationally wanted, the Interpol database is additionally used. If you are unsure of your actions, immediately contact a lawyer for a confidential check.

⚖️ What is the main specialization of your association in criminal law?

Our law firm specializes in defense under Article 191 of the CCU (Misappropriation, embezzlement of property or seizure thereof by abuse of official position). We handle a large number of criminal proceedings in NABU and HACC. Starting from the case of the Odesa Portside Plant (OPZ), we have been defending clients in NABU almost since the establishment of this law enforcement agency.

💰 What is the cost of your law firm's services?

The cost of our law firm's services depends on the complexity and type of services. The standard cost for accompanying an interrogation is 7000 UAH per hour of work by a partner lawyer of the company. When concluding a contract for the client's defense during the pre-trial investigation period, we mainly offer clients payment for services monthly to reduce their costs. Since investigative actions can last for hours, fixed monthly payment for a lawyer's services is more advantageous for clients.

🕵️ How to verify a lawyer's qualifications?

The best criterion for checking a lawyer's qualifications is searching for court decisions and verdicts where this lawyer is listed as the defendant's defender. If a lawyer has not received a single acquittal in their entire career, in our opinion, this indicates their low qualification. The absence of verdicts in the court register with the lawyer's surname most often indicates that you may be dealing with a scam lawyer. Read more details in the section of this page above.

If you found out or assume that you are internationally wanted,
the main thing is not to panic and not to act alone.
1️⃣ Do not cross the border without consulting a lawyer.
Risk of immediate detention.
2️⃣ Do not contact Interpol independently.
All inquiries go through law enforcement agencies — a wrong step can "wake up" the case.
3️⃣ Collect documents confirming:
– political motivation for persecution
– raider nature of the case
– war risks in the requesting country
4️⃣ The lawyer will check what exactly is in the databases:
– Red Notice (Interpol Red Notice)
– Diffusion (distribution to certain countries)
– national search
5️⃣ We form a defense strategy that may include:
– preparation of explanations
– filing inquiries
– challenging the grounds for the search
– removal of data from Interpol

📌 Most mistakes are made during the first contacts with the police.
Call a lawyer immediately — this will allow you to avoid disaster.

CONSTITUTION OF UKRAINE: Go to text

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE OF UKRAINE: Go to text

CRIMINAL CODE OF UKRAINE: Go to text

Unified State Register of Court Decisions: Go to register

LAW OF UKRAINE On Advocacy and Legal Practice: Go to text

Unified Register of Lawyers of Ukraine: Go to register

Electronic Court: Go to system