Expert on Russia and CIS Countries: Preparation of Expert Witness Reports for Asylum Applicants from Russia

What is an Expert Witness Report?
As you may know, an expert witness report is an independent analytical document used to substantiate facts, justify risks, and assess the situation in the applicant's country of origin. Its purpose is to demonstrate that the applicant faces a real threat of persecution in their country and cannot return there.

Why is an Expert Witness Report Essential?
An expert witness report is crucial at every stage of the asylum process:

• At the application stage: It helps establish the applicant's personal risks and their connection to the general situation in their country of origin.
• At the appeal stage: If the application has been denied, the report can be used for a detailed analysis of the immigration authority's decision, identifying errors, and providing additional evidence.

Key Functions of an Expert Witness Report:

• Contextual Analysis: Confirms the broader situation in the country, including political instability, repression, and conflict, citing both international and local sources.
• Personal Risk Assessment: Demonstrates the connection between the applicant's individual threats and the conditions in their country.
• Strengthening the Evidence Base: Verifies that the applicant belongs to a vulnerable group facing persecution.
• Support with Credible Sources: References authoritative organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the United Nations, and others, formatted according to the OSCOLA standard.

Country Witness Expert on Russia and Post-Soviet Countries
Preparation of expert witness reports for asylum applicants from Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

About Me
My name is Maksim Kharitonov, and I am an expert on human rights, political repression, and social violations in post-Soviet countries. My work focuses on providing objective and professional expert witness reports for asylum applicants in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and European Union states. I specialize in analyzing and presenting evidence that substantiates risks of persecution in former Soviet Union countries.

My Achievements:

• Over 100 successful expert witness reports prepared for asylum applicants from post-Soviet countries, including Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, at both the appeal and initial application stages.
• Collaboration with leading law firms in the United States and the United Kingdom, providing reports that have served as key evidence for successful asylum decisions.
• Recipient of the Expert Witness Awards 2024 in the category of "Best Expert on Immigration Issues."
• Extensive knowledge of the legal and political landscape in post-Soviet countries, enabling me to objectively assess risks of political persecution, human rights violations, and other safety concerns for applicants.
• Recognized as a trusted expert in human rights and political repression, listed in the expert witness database for immigration and judicial processes (EIN): https://www.ein.org.uk/experts/kharitonov.

Having personally gone through the asylum process, I deeply understand how important it is to present a complete and credible picture to the court.
If you are looking for a professional expert on political asylum cases from post-Soviet countries, my services will help you prepare a strong and compelling case for your clients.

Human Rights Violations in Russia

Russia faces serious human rights issues:

• Political repression: Opposition figures and dissenters are subjected to arrests, criminal charges, and threats.
• Anti-war protests: Participants are detained, charged, and persecuted for expressing dissent against the war.
• Forced mobilization: Even those who have never served in the military are being drafted; evading conscription carries criminal penalties.
• Pressure on anti-war activists: Social isolation, job termination, and threats to personal safety.
• Persecution of returnees: Asylum seekers who return to Russia risk being charged with treason.
• Freedom of speech: Independent journalists face arrest and censorship.
• Internal relocation options: Authorities can easily track the movements of citizens, especially activists.
• Limited access to legal protection: Lawyers and human rights defenders working on political cases are harassed and persecuted.

In my report, I provide detailed coverage of all these aspects, with references to sources, findings, and conclusions.

How I Work on Reports Regarding Russia

I typically prepare expert reports based on instructions from major law firms in the UK and the US.

The common set of questions they ask me to address includes:

• An overview of the current political climate in Russia, including the status of the opposition.
• How do the authorities treat participants in anti-war protests?
• What risks do those who disagree with government policies, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine, face?
• The reality of forced mobilization and the prospects of being sent into combat.
• Internal relocation options within Russia and their viability.
• Risks for returnees who have applied for asylum abroad, especially if they have attracted media attention.
• How does the Russian system respond to those who have avoided military service or protested against mobilization?

How I Create an Expert Report

1. Reviewing the Applicant's Documents
The creation of an expert report begins with a thorough review of all documents provided by the applicant. These may include personal statements, evidence of persecution, interview records, and rejection decisions. The goal of this stage is to identify key facts and pieces of evidence that need to be strengthened to substantiate the applicant’s risk.

2. Researching the Situation in the Country of Origin
The next step is to analyze the situation in the applicant’s country of origin. I use reliable international and local sources to gather up-to-date information on the political, social, and legal situation in the country. It is important to establish the connection between the overall situation in the country and the applicant's personal history.

3. Preparing Justifications
Based on the collected data, I assess the risks that the applicant may face if returned to their country. Each conclusion is supported by references to verified sources, which makes the report objective and credible.

4. Adherence to Standards
Special attention is given to compliance with expert report preparation standards. All my reports follow the Practical Directions of the Upper Tribunal on expert evidence. Each document includes a statement of truth, confirming that the data is based on reliable sources, and the opinions expressed are my professional judgments.

5. Objectivity and Independence
My conclusions remain independent of the outcome of the case, ensuring the objectivity of the report. I confirm the accuracy of the facts presented and the correctness of the conclusions drawn. If necessary, I am available to testify in court and provide witness statements on the situation in the applicant's country of origin.

My Specialization
I work not only with applicants from Russia but also with countries of the post-Soviet space: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Each case is unique, and I approach the preparation of reports by considering all individual factors. This allows my clients to confidently represent their interests in courts and immigration authorities.

How to Order a Report?
If your clients require an expert report, please contact me at info@thehuman-rights.com. Reports can be paid for through Legal Aid, making them free of charge for applicants whose cases are supported by government legal assistance. Flexible payment terms are available for private requests.

Conclusion
An expert report is not just a document; it is a crucial tool that can determine the successful outcome of a case. My task is to objectively analyze the current situation, establish the connection between the general conditions in the country and the applicant's personal history, and provide the court and immigration authorities with all necessary evidence to make a fair decision.