«Military advocates» have nothing to do with advocacy – UNBA statement

Advocacy
17:32 Fri 28.03.25 281 Reviews
Print

The activities of the «military advocates» who forcefully «repel» mobilized persons liable for military service in the TCC have nothing to do with legal practice based on the principles of the rule of law and legality.

This statement was made by Lidiya Izovitova, the President of the UNBA, BCU, commenting on information and videos circulating on social media about such «services» of unknown persons.

A lawyer has no right to resort to means and methods in his or her professional activities that contradict the current legislation or the Rules of Professional Conduct.

It is noted that lawyers today provide legal assistance to persons liable for military service, including in the premises of the TCC. At the same time, lawyers often suffer violations of professional rights and interference with the guarantees of the practice of law.

Here is the full text of the document:

Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine

Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine

State Bureau of Investigation

Security Service of Ukraine

Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Security, Defense and Intelligence

Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Legal Policy

Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Law Enforcement

 

OPEN STATEMENT

on the activities of «military advocates»

Videos and messages about so-called military lawyers in vans who «take» people from employees of territorial recruitment and social support centers for money are actively circulating on social media.

«In Kyiv, if you are taken in by a recruiting center or the police, you can contact a firm and they will instantly send several vans with strong guys. The vans will have the words «military advocates» on them. They will pick you up at the TCC and take you wherever you want to go. This service is paid for - about 3 to 4 thousand dollars. That is, in order not to pay the TCC, you can pay the bandits who will save you from the TCC», - says the author of one of the videos. In another, the same cars with the words «military advocates» are shown driving through the streets of the capital or simply standing in columns.

The National Bar Association of Ukraine states that there is neither a «military advocacy» in Ukraine nor persons with the legal status of «military advocates».

Currently, some individuals are trying to promote this idea. For example, former Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar spoke about the need for military lawyers in 2023 at the XVIII Forum of the Ukrainian Bar Association «Development of Legal Services». Also, lawyers Ilya Kostin, who serves in the Main Department of Military Justice, and Artem Donets actively supported the introduction of military lawyers in their comments to the media.

It is possible that unknown persons, calling themselves «military advocates», have already used this idea to commit illegal acts.

Therefore, the consequences are already tangible and cause concern. After all, the creation of the «military advocacy» as a separate institution poses risks to the established professional standards of the bar and threatens the independence of human rights activities and the effective protection of the rights of military personnel.

The Ukrainian National Bar Association states that the activities of «military advocates» who forcibly «repel» mobilized persons liable for military service in the TCC have nothing to do with the practice of law based on the rule of law and legality.

The Law of Ukraine «On the Bar and Practice of Law» names nine main types of legal practice. None of them involves the use of violent forms of influence, including on public authorities and their officials.

In their professional activities, lawyers have no right to resort to means and methods that contradict the current legislation or the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Today, lawyers provide legal assistance to persons liable for military service, including on the premises of the TCC. At the same time, lawyers often experience violations of their professional rights and interference with the guarantees of the practice of law.

The Bar Council of Ukraine, speaking in defense of the advocates, who were unreasonably accused by the Bucha District Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support of allegedly anti-state behavior aimed at disrupting mobilization tasks, emphasized that unreasonable accusations of advocates of committing professional actions that are actually the exercise of their legal powers and do not go beyond the current legislation are unacceptable. Such actions constitute a direct violation of the guarantees of the Practice of Law, as they actually mean interference and obstruction of the lawful professional activity of advocates.

The Ukrainian National Bar Association strongly condemns the cases of physical violence by unknown persons calling themselves «military advocates» against the officials of the territorial centers of recruitment and social support.

We emphasize that the bar protects the rights of persons liable for military service and military personnel exclusively within the limits established by the legislation of Ukraine and on the basis of the principles of legality and the rule of law. Lawyers provide legal defense using exclusively legal means and forms of professional activity. Such legal aid contributes to strengthening public confidence in the legal system and ensures a balance between the needs of national security and the protection of fundamental human rights.

 

The President of the Ukrainian National Bar Association,

of the Bar Council of Ukraine

L. Izovitova

Popular news

Shoulder straps do not fit the robe: Lidiya Izovitova analyzes models of military courts restoration

Advocacy

Shoulder straps do not fit the robe: Lidiya Izovitova analyzes models of military courts restoration

The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy held a working meeting to discuss draft laws that provide for the establishment and operation of military courts in Ukraine on a permanent basis. The Institute of Advocacy presented its reservations regarding this initiative.

15:39 Thu 01.05.25 128
UNBA Committee for the protection of advocates' rights responds to accusations regarding the case of «hacker lawyers»

Advocacy

UNBA Committee for the protection of advocates' rights responds to accusations regarding the case of «hacker lawyers»

Dzerkalo Tyzhnia's publications about «hacker lawyers» contain false information, distortions and manipulations that undermine the authority of the Bar. They are a form of unlawful pressure on the UNBA and may be an element of a paid-for campaign.

19:17 Wed 23.04.25 139
Problems of implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer discussed in the Verkhovna Rada

Advocacy

Problems of implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer discussed in the Verkhovna Rada

On April 16, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Legal Policy held a joint working meeting to discuss the feasibility of implementing the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer and introducing the necessary amendments to the current legislation.

18:41 Wed 16.04.25 188
The BCU creates a working group to monitor violations of the rights of lawyers and will consider appealing to the Verkhovna Rada

Advocacy

The BCU creates a working group to monitor violations of the rights of lawyers and will consider appealing to the Verkhovna…

During an extraordinary meeting on April 16, 2025, the Bar Council of Ukraine decided to establish a working group to monitor and summarize the facts of violations of the rights of lawyers and guarantees of the practice of law over the past three years, including the situation with the detention of lawyer Olga Panchenko.

14:16 Wed 16.04.25 133
Temporary protection, work, study: what Ukrainians should know about France and UK

Advocacy

Temporary protection, work, study: what Ukrainians should know about France and UK

What is the procedure for obtaining temporary protection status in France and the UK? When can it be refused and is it possible to appeal such a decision? What are the options for legalization and change of status? What about employment, education and business opportunities?

18:36 Tue 01.04.25 266
«Military advocates» have nothing to do with advocacy – UNBA statement

Advocacy

«Military advocates» have nothing to do with advocacy – UNBA statement

The activities of the «military advocates» who forcefully «repel» mobilized persons liable for military service in the TCC have nothing to do with legal practice based on the principles of the rule of law and legality.

17:32 Fri 28.03.25 282
Commentary to the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the profession of lawyer translated into Ukrainian

Advocacy

Commentary to the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the profession of lawyer translated into Ukrainian

Along with the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe also approved an explanatory report to it. This document is a kind of official commentary to be used by countries in the application of the international treaty.

15:37 Mon 24.03.25 248
«The Convention will enhance the quality of human protection from criminal prosecution», - Valentyn Gvozdiy, the Vice President of the UNBA, BCU

Advocacy

«The Convention will enhance the quality of human protection from criminal prosecution», - Valentyn Gvozdiy, the Vic…

Recently, the Council of Europe adopted the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, an international treaty that guarantees the independence, security and self-governance of lawyers. The latter call it a key step towards strengthening the rule of law. But what does this mean in practice, why is the Convention of extraordinary value - these and other questions were answered by Valentyn Gvozdiy, the Vice President of the UNBA, BCU, to the host of Fakty ICTV.

11:41 Thu 20.03.25 269

Надішліть файл із текстом публікації у форматі *.doc, фотографію за тематикою у розмірі 640х400 та Ваше фото.

Оберіть файл