In the Russian legal system, criminal proceedings are always at the extreme front line, where people’s fates intersect with the letter of the law. In conditions where acquittals account for less than 0.2%, every defense victory becomes an extraordinary event.
Anastasiia Shavlak is a lawyer with over 16 years of professional experience, a graduate of the Moscow State Law Academy, who worked for more than 13 years in the Prosecutor’s Office of the Magadan Region, reaching the position of Senior Assistant to the Prosecutor of the city of Magadan. Today, she is an attorney at the Magadan Regional Bar Association, a leader in criminal defense and legal security. She is called a guru in her field, a specialist who has pierced a breach in the wall of the accusatory system and proved that defense can be not only formal but also effective. For her fidelity to the law, she has been awarded the III degree distinction badge.
Anastasiia, let’s start from the very beginning. Why did you choose the legal profession?
— I always understood that law is the foundation of society. I graduated from the Moscow State Law Academy with a civil law specialization, after which I was accepted into the Prosecutor’s Office, where I was tasked with executing duties related to state prosecution and supervision in the criminal-legal field. From the very first years of service, I saw how high the cost of a mistake could be: one wrong decision could cost a person their freedom and future. This experience made me extremely attentive to details and taught me to think strategically.
Thirteen years in the prosecutor’s office is a serious school. What did it mean for you?
— It was a time of colossal workload. I reviewed thousands of criminal cases, represented the prosecution in court, and analyzed investigative materials. But at the same time, I also saw the other side: when cases are initiated without sufficient grounds, when there is no actual crime or evidentiary basis. These observations formed my conviction: the law must primarily work in defense of the citizen. That is why I later decided to move into advocacy.
You often emphasize the issue of unlawful criminal prosecution. How do you manage to succeed where statistics are against you?
— Strategy decides everything. The greatest results are achieved when we begin work at the stage of preliminary checks and investigative operations. If it is possible to competently and promptly communicate the defense position to the prosecutor’s office and preliminary investigators, a case can be prevented from being initiated. After all, the investigators also understand: if the prosecution is clearly hopeless, it will result in the termination of the case. Such precedents do exist, and they are extremely important because they allow a person to preserve their reputation and freedom even before trial.
Can you give an example of a case you are particularly proud of?
— Recently, I defended a person accused of three crimes at once, including a serious felony. The case had a political undertone and they were trying to secure a conviction. We presented exhaustive evidence in court proving the weakness of the prosecution’s case. The first instance still issued a guilty verdict, but in the appeal, one of the judges issued a special opinion, recognizing that our client should be acquitted. For the Russian judicial system, this is an extremely rare occurrence — special opinions are recorded only sporadically across the country. For me, it was a sign that we were truly breaking a breach in the monolithic accusatory system.
Have there been cases where you managed to stop a criminal case before it reached court?
— Yes, and there have been quite a few. For example, I defended entrepreneurs who were being targeted for operating without a license. We proved that by law they had the right to continue their work for a certain period after the license had expired. The investigators simply did not know this and had not sufficiently analyzed the current legislation before starting their operations. As a result, the case was not initiated. Or a case where a person was threatened with criminal prosecution because their car was used by third parties for illegal fishing. We proved their non-involvement, and they remained a witness, not a defendant.
A combination of prosecutorial and advocacy experience is rare. What is the difference between these roles for you?
— In the prosecutor’s office, you are part of the system; in advocacy, you are an independent unit. There is no boss who will take responsibility for part of your decisions. Every decision is your personal signature and your personal conscience. But it is more interesting to work as a lawyer: you choose cases, form the strategy, and build the defense. For me, both professions are linked by an oath: the prosecutor serves the law, the lawyer protects citizens’ rights, and in both cases, it is a path to strengthening legality.
Today, there is a lot of talk about LegalTech and the use of artificial intelligence. Do you use such tools?
— I view them positively, but with caution. I prepare all my texts manually — I believe it’s part of professional responsibility. But for translations or information searches, yes, they can be useful. I’ve taken courses on ChatGPT to understand how such systems work. The main thing is not to rely on them blindly, but to verify the information they provide. Russian analogs are still limited in functionality, but progress is being made, and it’s important for lawyers not to fall behind technological developments.
What, in your opinion, distinguishes a good lawyer?
— Professionalism, competence, integrity, respect for the law, and respect for the client. That’s the foundation. And also, the ability to remain independent and defend one’s opinion, even when it goes against the stance of powerful institutions.
What advice would you give to young lawyers?
— Be honest and independent. Don’t compromise your conscience for the sake of your career. Learn to stand your ground if you believe you’re right. In our time, that’s especially important.
And finally, if you look back at your professional path as a whole — what does advocacy mean to you today?
— It’s a natural continuation of my work as a prosecutor. It’s an opportunity to use my public service experience to protect individuals. For me, every successful case is not just a result, but a step toward ensuring that the law in Russia remains what it’s meant to be — a guarantee of freedom and justice.
