TEAM

Mikhail Beniash (Lithuania), co-founder. A criminal defence lawyer who practised in Russia from 2006 to 2023, representing political and anti-war activists. In the course of that work he lodged numerous applications with the European Court of Human Rights, fifteen of which resulted in judgments finding a violation. In 2022 he was entered in Russia’s register of “foreign agents” and in 2023 subsequently disbarred. He moved to Lithuania in 2023. When the Migration Department revoked his residence permit on account of his trips to Belarus to visit his minor son, he challenged the decision before the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania and had the permit restored. That case prompted the founding of “EXILES”. He now handles immigration matters and prepares applications to the ECtHR.

Dmitry Zakhvatov (Lithuania), co-founder. A criminal defence lawyer who handled politically motivated criminal cases in Russia. He has been convicted in absentia in Russia and sentenced to nineteen years’ imprisonment for providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. In Lithuania, he secured the termination, on exonerating grounds, of criminal proceedings against Sergei Voronkov, a refugee from occupied Zaporizhzhia charged under Article 300(2) of the Lithuanian Criminal Code with using a forged passport to cross the border. He also organised the evacuation from Russia of Rita Flores, a former member of Pussy Riot, and of Ekaterina Barabash, a journalist and film critic who had been held under house arrest pending trial on politically motivated charges.

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.

Artem Klyga (Germany). Head of the Legal Department at the Movement of Conscientious Objectors. He specializes in defending the rights of conscripts, military personnel, and deserters, and has co-authored expert reports on military mobilization in Russia and the criminal prosecution of conscientious objectors and deserters. He joined the “EXILES” project on the day the community’s launch was publicly announced.