Defended police officers — ended up in the army: advocate mobilized while performing his duties

An advocate specializing in defending the rights of law enforcement officers and who had repeatedly won cases against the police was mobilized while performing his professional duties. The day before, a report appeared in the Oberig registry stating that he had violated military registration rules, and his current deferral was canceled. The advocate was detained, taken to the TCC and the SS, beaten and sent to a military unit.

Between 2023 and 2025, the advocate specialized in cases related to appeals against disciplinary penalties, dismissals and non-payment of compensation to former police officers. As a result of the legal assistance he provided, several court decisions were made in favor of his clients, including the cancellation of a severe reprimand and the award of monetary compensation for unused vacation days. These cases concerned one of the regional units of the National Police.

In July 2025, as part of providing legal assistance to former police officers, the advocate submitted a request to the Main department of the National Police asking for the materials of official investigations concerning his clients.

After agreeing on a date for reviewing the documents, a message suddenly appeared in the Oberig registry stating that the advocate had violated military registration rules.

According to the lawyer, he arrived at the TCC and the SS, where he was told that it was a technical glitch. This message disappeared, but reappeared a few days later, after the lawyer contacted the police again regarding another case.

On July 21, the advocate arrived at the district police department, where he familiarized himself with the materials on the basis of a lawyer's request and powers of attorney from clients. Almost immediately after completing work with the documents, representatives of the TCC and the SS entered the premises, blocked the exit, and demanded that he present his military registration documents and confirmation of deferral from mobilization. Although the advocate provided them with the relevant documents, the TCC and SS employees stated that he was wanted «to clarify his registration details» and forcibly took him to the territorial center.

There, the advocate was held for several hours without explanation. When asked about the grounds for detention, TCC and the SS employees replied: «We will let you know later». The advocate contacted the Ministry of defense's government hotline and called the police via the special line 102. However, it is unknown whether law enforcement officers arrived at the scene.

At around 9 p.m., he was asked to undergo a military medical examination. Although the advocate reminded them of the current deferral and stated that he had not received any decisions on its cancellation, no explanation was given (only a few days later did he see the protocol decision of the TCC and the SS on the cancellation of the deferral, adopted on the same day, July 21).

After that, he was transferred to the premises where the mobilized persons were held. When the advocate refused to get on the bus without documents and clear explanations, his mobile phone was taken away, and one of the TCC and the SS employees struck him several times in the back and face. According to the advocate, another employee of the center joined in the beating, while the rest watched silently. On the way to the military unit, when he complained of pain, an ambulance was called. At the hospital, doctors recorded bodily injuries, and a broken rib was confirmed at the medical facility.

The advocate's mobile phone was returned only the next day, after he was officially enrolled in the military unit. He then filed a complaint with the Ukrainian National Bar Association alleging a violation of his rights as a lawyer, providing his explanation and documents confirming the beating.

Based on its investigation of the incident, the UNBA Committee on the protection of lawyers’ rights and guarantees of the practice of law is seeking to hold those responsible for violating the lawyer’s rights accountable.

We remind you that, according to Article 23 of the Law «On advocacy and the practice of law», the professional rights, honor, and dignity of lawyers are guaranteed and protected by the Constitution and laws of Ukraine. Any interference with or obstruction of the practice of law is prohibited. The life, health, honor, and dignity of lawyers are protected by the state, and any encroachment upon them is punishable by law.

Any form of obstruction of the lawful activities of a defense counsel or representative of a person providing legal assistance, or violation of the guarantees established by law for their activities, is a crime punishable under Article 397 of the Criminal Code. A separate crime is the intentional infliction of minor or moderate bodily harm on a defense counsel or representative of a person in connection with activities related to the provision of legal assistance (Article 398 of the Criminal Code).