UNBA Committee reviews new cases of violence against advocates in TCC

New facts of physical violence, obstruction of access to clients, as well as sabotage of investigations in cases involving lawyers were considered by the UNBA Committee on the Protection of Lawyers' Rights and Guarantees of the Legal Profession during its last meeting.
Participants cited specific examples from Kharkiv and Kyiv, and the Committee identified ways to respond.
One of the most high-profile cases involved an advocate who arrived at a Kharkiv clinic to assist a client who had been removed from the military register. The advocate was forcibly removed from the premises, beaten, and had his phone confiscated. His client was subsequently illegally detained on the premises. After threats and humiliation, the man jumped out of a window. He survived but suffered serious injuries. Despite a statement to the police, the case is not being properly investigated.
Other lawyers from Kharkiv reported numerous cases where they were denied access to their clients at the TCC, even on the instructions of the free legal aid system. Some were injured as a result of physical confrontation: one lawyer had her arm broken by a door, another was kicked in the legs and then forcibly pushed out of the Temporary Commission. In both cases, there was a delay in the investigation, no charges were brought, and access to justice was effectively blocked.
More than ten separate stories were heard at the meeting, all of which had one thing in common: gross disregard for the status of lawyers, physical pressure, and lack of adequate response from law enforcement officials. Of particular concern is the fact that female advocates are increasingly becoming victims, and some of the victims have temporarily lost their ability to work.
A similar problem was reported in the capital. At the Svyatoshinsky District Center for the Protection of Human Rights, one of the advocates had his phone confiscated. In another case, a female advocate was beaten after she informed the duty officer of her status. She was not entered into the visitor log, and the materials relating to the incident were not properly recorded.
The advocates also drew attention to a typical situation where the police formally fulfill their duty to report the detention, but by the time the advocate arrives, they have already managed to draw up a report and transfer the person to the TCC. At the same time, the documents are signed and the time of the alleged «release» is indicated, so when the advocate arrives, he is told that the detainee «left voluntarily» or «is no longer detained». As a result, the person is effectively deprived of the right to defense, and no authority is held accountable.
In response, the Committee proposed the following measures:
- to refer the matter to the Verkhovna Rada’s temporary investigative commission on possible violations of Ukrainian law in the implementation of state defense measures;
- initiate a joint meeting of the parliamentary committees on legal policy, defense, and law enforcement;
- appeal to the Prosecutor General, the Chairman of the High Council of Justice, and the Chairman of the Supreme Court;
- analyze the available facts of ineffective investigation and consider appealing to the ECHR.
The Committee members stressed that the legal community must defend itself systematically and consistently. The accumulation of dozens of documented cases can become not only an argument at the legislative level, but also a prerequisite for international response.
Popular news

Educational events
Ukrainian advocacy integrates HELP into the system of professional development
In recent years, the Ukrainian National Bar Association has become one of the Council of Europe’s key partners in implementing the HELP programme, an educational project aimed at developing the legal profession through training in European human rights standards.

Legislation
Those who equate advocates with clients will be fined – law passed
Public identification of an advocate with a client to whom such advocate provides professional legal assistance will become an administrative offense, and forms of interference in the activities of an advocate, for which liability is provided for in Article 397 of the Criminal Code, are detailed.

Discussion
Experts have exceptional potential that should be developed jointly — Lidiya Izovitova
The professions of advocate and expert can and must develop by learning from each other, exchanging experience and best practices. Together, we can build a strong, independent, and effective justice system worthy of a European Ukraine.

Discussion
Strengthening the country's sovereignty requires a new model for forming the HQCJ – round table
The model of the competition commission for selecting members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges, introduced as an anti-crisis measure, has exhausted itself. The inaction of the HCJ in forming a new composition of the CC, the lack of accountability, and the existing signs of political influence indicate that powers should be transferred directly to the entities responsible for forming the HQCJ as defined by law.

Guarantees of the practice of law
UNBA Committee reviews new cases of violence against advocates in TCC
New facts of physical violence, obstruction of access to clients, as well as sabotage of investigations in cases involving lawyers were considered by the UNBA Committee on the Protection of Lawyers' Rights and Guarantees of the Legal Profession during its last meeting.

Guarantees of the practice of law
One third of complaints to the UNBA are due to unlawful actions by the TCC
In the first half of 2025, the Committee for the protection of lawyers' rights and guarantees of advocacy of the Ukrainian National Bar Association recorded 46 complaints of violations of professional rights. A third of these concerned unlawful actions by territorial recruitment centers—systematic obstruction of advocacy or violation of the right to defense.

Guarantees of the practice of law
SSU official letter about «dangerous» advocacy turned out to be fake
The Security Service of Ukraine has officially denied the authenticity of a document that allegedly described threatening trends in the development of the advocacy profession. The text, which was previously published on a little-known website and distributed on Telegram channels, is not an official letter from the SSU.

Self-government
The HCJ continues to ignore the legal deadlines for forming the Competition Commission of the HQCJ
The High Council of Justice continues to violate the statutory deadlines for forming a new competition commission to select members of the Competition Commission of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.
Publications

Ihor Kolesnykov A BRIEF SUMMARY REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF THE ORDER ON EXTENDED CONFISCATION IN LATVIA REGARDING FINANCIAL ASSETS OF…

Valentyn Gvozdiy WORKING IN A WAR ZONE

Lydia Izovitova Formula of perfection

Sergiy Vylkov Our judicial system is so built that courts do not trust advocates

Iryna Vasylyk Advocacy in the proclamation of Independence of Ukraine

Oleksandr DULSKY When we cross the border of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court, we get into another department of the National Anti-Corruption…

Vadym Krasnyk The UNBA will work, and all obstacles and restrictions are only temporary inconveniences

Lydia Izovitova Interview with Lydia Izovitova on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the founding of UNBA: We are the voice of t…