A victim's rights arise from the moment a report of a criminal offence or an application to join the proceedings is filed (Article 55 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC/КПК)). Article 56 CPC gives the victim broad powers: to submit evidence and motions, review the case file, challenge decisions of the investigation and claim compensation for damage.
In practice, proceedings can stall for months, and information about an offence is sometimes not entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations (URPI/ЄРДР). We prepare a well-grounded report with evidence, monitor the investigation, challenge inaction and represent the victim in court, including with a civil claim for damages.
When to seek help
- You have become a victim of fraud, including online or crypto fraud
- You have suffered bodily injury or damage to property
- The police will not accept your report or enter it in the URPI
- The investigation has stalled and the investigator does not respond
- The proceedings have been closed and you disagree
- The case has reached court and you want to recover compensation
What the lawyer does
Report of a criminal offence
We prepare a report describing the circumstances, the legal classification and the evidence, and file it with the competent authority. The information must be entered in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations (URPI/ЄРДР) within 24 hours (Article 214 CPC).
Complaints about inaction
If the report has not been registered or the investigation is dragging on, we file complaints with the investigating judge and the prosecutor under Articles 303 and 308 CPC.
Motions and evidence
We file motions for investigative actions, expert examinations and the arrest of the suspect's property to secure compensation, and gather and submit evidence.
Civil claim
We draft a civil claim within the criminal proceedings under Article 128 CPC, with a calculation of pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage.
Representation in court
We represent the victim at first instance and on appeal, and set out the victim's position on the charges, sentence and compensation.
Documents to prepare
- Passport and taxpayer registration number (RNOKPP/РНОКПП)
- URPI extract or acknowledgement slip, if a report has already been filed
- Evidence: correspondence, screenshots, bank statements, receipts
- Medical documents in case of bodily injury
- Documents confirming the amount of loss
- Responses from law enforcement, decisions of the investigator or prosecutor
What you get
- A report of a criminal offence or a complaint about inaction
- Motions for investigative actions and arrest of property to secure compensation
- A civil claim with a calculation of damages
- Representation during the investigation and in court, regular reports
Frequently asked questions
What if the police refuse to accept my report?
The police are obliged to accept a report of a criminal offence and enter the information in the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations (URPI/ЄРДР) within 24 hours. Failure to do so can be challenged before the investigating judge. File your report in writing, with an acknowledgement of receipt on your copy or by registered post with a list of enclosures — that way the fact that you filed it is recorded.
Can money lost to fraud be recovered?
Compensation is possible through a civil claim in the criminal proceedings or a separate lawsuit, and arresting the suspect's property helps secure it. However, actual recovery depends on whether the offender is identified and whether they have assets. That is why it is important to act quickly: the sooner a report is filed, the more chances there are to trace the funds.
Does a victim have to have a lawyer?
No, a victim can protect their interests on their own. A representative is needed when the case is complex, the investigation is dragging on, decisions of the investigation need to be challenged or a civil claim is to be filed. A lawyer acting as representative exercises the victim's procedural rights, except those the victim can exercise only in person (Article 58 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC/КПК)).