The State Support Mechanism
The protection of a victim of domestic violence is not exhausted by a single order — the law creates a complete state mechanism covering the police's immediate response, shelter, support services, confidentiality and even correction of the abuser's behaviour. This mechanism is defined by the sixteenth through twentieth articles of the law, and knowing it enables the victim and their representative to use every state resource.
The Police's Duties
On receiving information about a fact of violence, the police must respond immediately and appear at the scene — regardless of who applied: the injured person, a witness or a helping person. Where a fact of violence exists, the police must take the measures provided by law to stop it, question the participants and witnesses separately — with written fixation — and supply the victim with information about her rights.
At the victim's request or in an urgent case, the police ensure her transfer to a medical institution and, with the victim's consent, the transfer of the victim and her dependants to a shelter; where necessary, the abuser is removed from the dwelling. The police also ensure the safety of the person who reported the fact, and on the victim's relocation — the taking of primary necessities and identification documents; they issue a restraining order, and in case of non-compliance with a social worker's decision on the separation of a minor — an order restricting firearms-related rights, issued for 1 month. The police draw up a protocol on each fact and the measures taken and submit it to the supervising prosecutor.
Shelter and Support Services
When the victim requests shelter services, law enforcement bodies ensure the placement of the victim and her dependants in a shelter. Importantly, the provision of shelter services does not depend on the victim's readiness to cooperate with law enforcement against the perpetrator. The victim is placed in a shelter for up to 4 months; where necessary, the period is extended under the shelter's internal rules.
In the shelter the victim retains her workplace in the same position, and support services, programmes and the crisis centre are used free of charge. The period of suspension of the labour relationship must not exceed 30 calendar days per year. Where the victim does not cooperate with law enforcement, the shelter service provider decides on the basis of objective criteria, relying on the victim's real needs — and a refusal must be substantiated.