“EXILES” is a community of Russian-speaking lawyers providing legal assistance to migrants from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and other countries across Europe.
The community was founded by lawyers who themselves have appeared before European courts as applicants and have learned first-hand that the level of legal protection available to migrants remains critically low. Some cannot afford the fees charged by local lawyers; others do not receive legal assistance in a timely manner; still others face restrictions based on nationality. The result is systemic deprivation of legal rights, and addressing it is what we regard as our principal mission.
Who We Are
Mikhail Benyash (Lithuania), Dmitry Zakhvatov (Lithuania), and Timur Filippov (Norway) stands at the origins of the community, together with two colleagues who do not disclose their identities publicly. Following the public announcement of the launch of the community’s work, lawyers from Latvia, Germany, Slovenia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Latin America joined the initiative. We vet candidates by reviewing legal documents they have prepared and court decisions rendered in cases in which they participated. Our principal areas of practice are immigration and employment law, as well as criminal defence, since the professional core of our team consists of criminal defence lawyers. We provide legal advice, prepare procedural documents—including complaints, statements of claim, appeals, and applications to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)—and conduct cases jointly with local lawyers in jurisdictions where representation is reserved to members of the local bar.
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At present, we operate on a fee-for-service contractual basis rather than through grant funding.
Our fees are set with due regard to clients’ actual financial means, as paid legal services provided by European lawyers are often beyond the reach of migrants.
Our track record includes securing the annulment by the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania of decisions of the Migration Department (including revocation of residence permits and refusals to issue residence permits); obtaining the termination, on exonerating grounds, of criminal proceedings against a refugee from occupied Zaporizhzhia; providing legal support in refugee and asylum cases; securing a stay of removal of a political refugee to Georgia; and obtaining international protection in Norway.
Applications in a number of cases have been lodged with the ECtHR.
Mikhail Beniash
Mikhail Benyash (Lithuania), co-founder. A criminal defence lawyer who represented political and anti-war activists in Russia. In 2022, he was entered in Russia’s register of “foreign agents” and was subsequently deprived of his status as an advocate; in 2023, he moved to Lithuania. After the Migration Department revoked his residence permit on account of his trips to Belarus to meet with his minor son, he successfully challenged that decision before the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania and had his residence permit restored. This case became the impetus for establishing the community. He currently handles immigration matters and prepares applications to the ECtHR.
Dmitry Zakhvatov
Dmitry Zakhvatov (Lithuania), co-founder. A criminal defence lawyer who handled politically motivated criminal cases in Russia. He was convicted in absentia in Russia and sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment for providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. In Lithuania, he secured the termination, on exonerating grounds, of criminal proceedings against Sergei Voronkov, a refugee from occupied Zaporizhzhia who had been charged under Article 300(2) of the Criminal Code of Lithuania with using a forged passport when crossing the border. He also organised the evacuation from Russia of Rita Flores, a former member of Pussy Riot.
Timur Filippov
Timur Filippov (Norway), co-founder. Over 25 years of experience in criminal law and criminal procedure. Prior to joining the bar, worked as a prosecutor-criminalist and as an investigator in the Department for the Investigation of Particularly Important Cases (major crimes unit), specializing in the investigation of homicides and other serious offenses.
As defense counsel, has handled criminal defense work, including representing political activists.
Currently practices in the field of international protection and immigration law, representing Russian nationals seeking asylum and international protection in European countries. This work includes preparing clients for interviews with migration authorities, analyzing the circumstances underlying claims of persecution, building the evidentiary record, and appealing decisions in international protection proceedings.
Artyom Klyga
Artyom Klyga (Germany). Head of the Legal Department at the Movement of Conscientious Objectors. Specializes in defending the rights of conscripts, military personnel, and deserters. Co-author of expert reports. Joined the “EXILES” project on the day the community’s work was publicly announced.
Contact us if you:
- need protection
- want to join the “Chuzhie” team
- have decided to support the project.
