The Sergey Sharov-Delone School of Public Defender
Empowering ordinary citizens with legal knowledge to defend themselves and their loved ones in Russian courts as public defenders
Understanding "Public Defender" in Russian Law
Under Russian law, an individual can be defended in court not only by a professional lawyer but also by a "public defender" (общественный защитник). This legal status grants the right to file motions, question witnesses, access defendants in detention facilities, and exercise the same procedural rights as a lawyer.
The ShOD trains ordinary citizens without formal law degrees to become these active and knowledgeable defenders, providing practical skills to navigate administrative and criminal court cases and interactions with law enforcement.
9 Years of Impact
Total Graduates
Over 9 years
Schools Held
Since 2016
Expert Faculty
Practicing lawyers
Years Active
Continuous growth
History & Evolution
Founded in 2016
Launched by historian and human rights activist Sergey Sharov-Delone (1956-2019), the school is a joint initiative of Russia Behind Bars, OVD-Info, and the Sakharov Center.
Format Evolution
Until 2020, the school was held offline at the Sakharov Center, including sessions across Russian regions. Since 2021, it successfully adapted to online format, significantly expanding geographic reach.
Graduate Impact
Hundreds of graduates have become activists, public defenders, and even professional lawyers and attorneys who are now actively working in courts across the country, creating a network of legally literate defenders.
Core Learning Areas
Public Defender Rights
Understanding the legal status that grants rights to file motions, question witnesses, and access defendants
Court Procedures
Practical guidance on procedural law from detention and interrogation to courtroom conduct and appeals
Russian Legal System
Deep dive into Criminal and Administrative Codes most often used to target activists and citizens
Law Enforcement Tactics
Analysis of prosecution and investigative institutions' structure, tactics, and vulnerabilities
Leading Expert Faculty
The school's faculty consists of practicing lawyers and human rights defenders with vast experience in complex human rights cases.
Maria Eismont
Defense attorney for 'New Greatness,' 'Bolotnoye' cases, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and Ukrainian POWs
Mikhail Biryukov
Defense attorney for politician Ilya Yashin and 'Golos' movement head Grigory Melkonyants
Svetlana Sidorkina
Defense attorney for mathematician and anarchist Azat Miftakhov
Maxim Pashkov
Lawyer defending those convicted in the 'New Greatness' case
Olga Romanova
Founder of human rights organization 'Russia Behind Bars'
Denis Shedov & Elena Makarova
Lawyers with Human Rights Center 'Memorial' and OVD-Info
Galina Arapova
Head of Mass Media Defence Center, expert on 'foreign agent' legislation
Additional Faculty
Vera Goncharova, Leonid and Alkhas Abgadzhava, Anastasia Samorukova, Leonid Solovyov
Recent Program: March 2025 School
Daily Program & Expert Lecturers
Introduction to public defense
Lecturer: Alla Frolova
Role: Legal Expert
Searches, interrogations, and pre-trial restrictions
Lecturer: Svetlana Sidorkina
Role: Defense Attorney
Preliminary investigation and trial court proceedings: rights of the defender
Lecturer: Anastasia Samorukova
Role: Human Rights Lawyer
Witness questioning procedures
Lecturer: Mikhail Biryukov
Role: Defense Attorney
Court records, appeals, and cassation
Lecturer: Maxim Pashkov
Role: Legal Expert
Forensic linguistic analysis in court
Lecturer: Elena Novozhilova
Role: Linguistic Expert
Jury trials
Lecturer: Alkhas Abgadzhava
Role: Trial Attorney
Undercover operations: distinguishing searches from inspections, interrogations from informal talks
Lecturer: Anastasia Samorukova & Leonid Abgadzhava
Role: Legal Experts
'Foreign agents,' 'undesirable organizations,' and digital security
Lecturer: Galina Arapova
Role: Mass Media Defence Center Head
Article 207.3 ('fake news' law): investigation tactics and defense strategies
Lecturer: Leonid Solovyov
Role: Defense Attorney
Administrative prosecution
Lecturer: Elena Makarova
Role: Administrative Law Expert
Wrap-up and Q&A
Lecturer: Faculty Panel
Role: All Instructors
Founding Organizations
Russia Behind Bars
Human rights organization
OVD-Info
Media project and human rights organization
Sakharov Center
Human rights organization and museum