Currently, state support for the payment of lawyers’ fees for Ukrainian citizens illegally deprived of their liberty as a result of the military aggression of the Russian Federation can be obtained through the following mechanisms:

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1 mechanism:

If the Interdepartmental Commission under the Ministry of Reintegration has already established the fact of deprivation of personal liberty in relation to a prisoner, you can receive compensation for the costs of legal assistance provided to such a person.

To do this, you need to apply to the Ministry of Reintegration with an application in the form. (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/file/text/103/f522228n31.docx) Along with the application, submit documents confirming receipt of professional legal assistance and its cost. This can be a contract with a lawyer, acts of services rendered, payment and other documents that reasonably indicate to the provision of legal assistance. The decision on compensation and its amount is made by the interdepartmental commission. The maximum amount of compensation for expenses incurred is 20 subsistence minimums for able-bodied persons (In 2023, this is 53 680 UAH).

Read about how to establish the fact of deprivation of personal liberty for civilian hostages, prisoners of war and their families in our brochure: Read in our brochure

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2 mechanism:

At the request of citizens of Ukraine who are illegally detained on the territory of the aggressor state, including prisoners of war, and/or are criminally prosecuted on politically motivated charges, or are accused of committing serious or especially serious crimes punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty, foreign diplomatic institutions may conclude agreements with lawyers to provide legal assistance to such citizens.

To do this, you need to apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a foreign diplomatic mission with a written application in which you justify the need for legal assistance. The decision to provide such assistance is taken by the Head of the foreign diplomatic mission in agreement with the State Secretary of the MFA and after consultations with the Public Council at the MFA. Upon approval, an agreement with a lawyer for the provision of legal assistance is concluded and payment is made in accordance with the agreement. Payment for the services of a lawyer is made under the relevant budget program.

Conclusion of agreements in accordance with the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated July 11, 2012 No. 651 “On approval of the Procedure for the formation and use of state budget funds by foreign diplomatic institutions of Ukraine for the implementation of measures to protect the rights and interests of Ukrainian citizens abroad and amendments to the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated April 23, 2001 No. 381” (as amended).