Extortion lawyer (Article 189 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code)

Legal assistance in criminal proceedings

• Complaints about property demands and threats; representation of the injured party.
• Defence following detention, at interviews and preventive-measure hearings.
• Review of messages, recordings, payments and special investigative measures.
• Distinguishing extortion from a debt dispute and related offences.

Extortion and disputes over a debt

Article 189 requires more than an insistent request for payment. We examine the property demand and its connection with a statutory threat, such as violence, restriction of rights, property damage or disclosure of unwanted information. The absence of an actual payment does not itself exclude liability. Equally, an ordinary creditor’s demand is not extortion merely because the debtor disputes the amount. Alleged coercion to perform an existing obligation requires consideration of Article 355 and other potentially applicable provisions. A debt acknowledgment does not authorise threats. Martial-law circumstances, alleged group involvement and claimed loss require separate legal and evidential assessment under the relevant paragraph.

Consultation and preparation for a procedural action

During a consultation, the lawyer separates established information from assumptions and identifies the immediate task: responding to a summons, challenging a restriction on property or requesting case materials. Provide complete copies of the summons, notice of suspicion or court order, together with records of actions already taken. The date a document was served can matter as much as its contents, so retain envelopes and delivery notifications.

A witness, injured party and suspect have different procedural rights. Counsel explains the right not to incriminate oneself or close relatives and checks whether the stated status reflects the person’s actual position. Preparing for an interview means reconstructing one’s own chronology and understanding the procedure; it does not mean rehearsing a preferred account. If an interview has already taken place without counsel, we examine its record and potential procedural consequences.

Online consultation with a lawyer

An initial document review and discussion can take place remotely. Before the meeting, identify the next hearing or interview date, any detention and current restrictions. Send complete materials through an agreed channel: an image of one paragraph may omit conditions essential to the assessment. Attendance at an investigative action or court hearing requires a separate arrangement; an online consultation does not automatically replace that attendance.

Working with Prikhodko & Partners

Clients receive explanations of specific procedural tasks: what needs checking, which application addresses the issue and what the investigator or court can decide. Our position rests on case materials rather than an assumption that any procedural defect will automatically end the proceedings. Authority to act, communication arrangements and the scope of instructions are agreed before the relevant work begins.

We check for conflicts of interest at the outset. Representing a suspect and an injured party in the same dispute cannot be combined contrary to professional requirements. Where another representative was previously involved, we establish which applications have been submitted and which orders remain effective, so that further steps do not contradict the existing position. Confidential matters are handled within the protections of lawyer-client confidentiality.

Messages, recordings and money transfers

Counsel examines the whole exchange: who made the demand, its recipient, the threatened act and the stated conditions. An isolated voice message may omit essential context. Electronic evidence requires examination of provenance, integrity, attribution and lawful collection. Preserve original messages and files without editing. Where a controlled transfer or other special investigative measure occurred, defence counsel checks authorisation, scope, documentation and possible inducement. Law-enforcement involvement does not automatically make every item admissible, but an unsupported objection is insufficient. An injured person should not independently arrange a dangerous meeting or promise payment on advice from unidentified intermediaries.

Responding to pressure and seeking protective measures

Where life or health is under an immediate threat, contacting the appropriate emergency service takes priority. Counsel can then help set out the facts in a complaint, document its submission and assess grounds for procedural safety measures. Filing a complaint does not guarantee immediate removal of danger; steps depend on the particular risk. Counter-threats or publishing private material to pressure another party can create further problems.

Searches, property restrictions and preventive measures

During a search, counsel examines its legal basis, permitted scope and documentation of seized items. Accurate descriptions, packaging, continuity of recording and inclusion of objections in the official record can all matter. Keeping a copy helps establish exactly what was seized and the stated basis for retaining it. Returning temporarily seized property and lifting a court-imposed property restriction require different applications depending on the current procedural decision.

For a preventive-measure hearing, we prepare submissions on the basis for suspicion and the alleged procedural risks. Evidence of residence, health, employment and family responsibilities should address identified circumstances rather than form a generic bundle. Availability of bail or another measure depends on the offence, procedural stage and any special rules applicable at the time of the hearing.

Legal fees and scope of instructions

Fees depend on the available material, urgency, number of procedural actions and stage of proceedings. A single attendance, a specific complaint and representation through trial involve different commitments. We agree what is included, how further attendance is charged and whether an expert, interpreter or travel expenses are needed. A legal fee pays for agreed professional work rather than a predetermined court outcome.