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

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 Ukraine

Since the onset of the armed conflict in 2014 and the escalation of the war in 2022, the human rights situation in Ukraine has significantly deteriorated:

• Consequences of Armed Conflict: Civilians are at risk in conflict zones, including shelling, forced displacement, and the destruction of infrastructure.
• War Crimes: Reports of violations of international humanitarian law, including torture and abduction of civilians.
• Rights of Displaced Persons: Internally displaced persons face discrimination, limited access to housing, employment, and social services.
• Ethnic Discrimination: Roma and other ethnic minorities frequently face attacks and stigmatization.
• Freedom of Speech: Amidst the war, media control has increased, with journalists facing threats and censorship.
• Corruption: State institutions remain vulnerable to corruption, limiting access to fair justice.
• Women’s Rights: Gender-based violence, including sexual violence in conflict, remains a serious issue.
• LGBT Discrimination: Members of the LGBT community face attacks, threats, and lack of legal protection.

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

How I Work on Reports Regarding Ukraine

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

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

• What is the current situation in the conflict zone?
• What risks exist for internally displaced persons and their families?
• What threats do ethnic and religious minorities face?
• What is the situation regarding gender-based violence and the protection of women’s rights?
• What threats do journalists and independent media face?
• What are the possibilities for internal relocation: how safe and feasible is it for applicants?
• What risks do members of the LGBT community face under societal pressure?

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 Ukraine but also with countries of the post-Soviet space: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, 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.