If police or another law-enforcement authority detains you, you have the right to defence and to a confidential meeting with a lawyer before questioning.
Do not answer questions before speaking to your lawyer
You may remain silent and refuse to sign documents you do not understand. Ask the authorities to record the actual time and grounds of detention and to notify your relatives.
How a lawyer is appointed
The detaining authority must immediately notify the Free Legal Aid system so that a lawyer can be appointed. The lawyer is independent. You do not pay for the lawyer’s legal services; they are funded from the State Budget of Ukraine.
If the appointed lawyer has not arrived within two hours
Call the Free Legal Aid contact centre at 0 800 213 103. Give your full name, location, the circumstances and actual time of detention, and ask for a lawyer to be appointed. A relative or another person may call on your behalf.
You have the right to meet your lawyer confidentially before the first questioning. Tell the lawyer about any pressure, injury, denial of medical care or inaccurate information in the detention record.