UNBA representatives visited Spain
On June 11-13, the UNBA delegation, headed by the head of UNBA, BCU Lidia Izovitova, was in Spain with an introductory visit.
During the visit, the Head of UNBA, BCU Lidia Izovitova had the chance to reach a fundamental agreement on further cooperation over a personal meeting with the Head of the Spanish Bar Association Victoria Ortega Benito. Also, the Ukrainian delegation met with representatives of the Spanish Bar and Bar Council of Madrid: familiarized with the organization of their work, discussed a number of relevant issues of institutional interaction with Ukrainian lawyers. Particularly interesting aspect of such cooperation is the provision of free legal aid: Spanish model has convincing advantages and deserves further research in order to study the implementation of some of its components in Ukraine. The topic of the legal aid was central during a meeting of the UNBA delegation with the Ministry of Justice of Spain.
The UNBA delegation also held a meeting in the Supreme Court, which is currently considering cases involving participants in the conflict around Catalonia. In this context, the experience of the interaction of advocates and law enforcement agencies in resonant cases was discussed, and it was emphasized that the priority of law is unconditional.
Ukrainian advocates also had an excursion to the Parliament of the Kingdom of Spain.
The delegation included the Head of the Committee on International Relations Ivan Grechkivskii and his deputy Vitalii Vlasiuk, Head of HQDBC Sergii Vylkov, heads of regional bar councils Sergiy Udovychenko, Viktoria Gaivoronska, Galyna Rudenko, Tetiana Leshchenko, Galyna Yakuba and Head of the UNBA Secretariat Vadym Krasnyk.
Head of UNBA, BCU Lidia Izovitova noted the effective efforts of the Head of the UNBA's foreign office in Spain Lilia Mykolayiv and the UNBA Committee on International Relations to organize this visit and its program content, and also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in Spain for the support of the visit of Ukrainian delegation.
We remind that UNBA continues to develop a network of foreign offices to help Ukrainians living or staying in other countries, as well as promoting foreign investment. In November 2018 UNBA signed corresponding Memorandum on Cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
Popular news
Self-government
BCU: NACP initiatives regarding advocacy are unconstitutional interference
The Bar Council of Ukraine has condemned the initiatives to reform the advocacy proposed by the National Agency for Corruption Prevention as direct, gross, and systematic interference by the executive branch in the activities of an independent constitutional institution.
Self-government
UNBA program for implementation of the Roadmap on the rule of law published
In order to ensure the implementation of measures set out in the Roadmap on the Rule of Law, the Bar Council of Ukraine approved a program for its implementation in relation to the reform of advocacy.
URAU
Access to advocate contacts in URAU has been restored
The Bar Council of Ukraine has opened up public access to data from the Unified Register of Advocates of Ukraine, which was closed at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. The decision was made at a meeting on December 12–13.
Self-government
Members of the QDCB are not required to submit declarations - BCU
Bar Council of Ukraine examined the legal status of members of bar self-government bodies and found that they are not required to submit declarations of persons authorized to perform functions of state or local self-government.
Self-government
BCU has identified 12 areas for implementing the Roadmap for advocacy
During its meeting on December 12, the Bar Council of Ukraine considered the Roadmap on the Rule of Law, approved by Order of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 475-r dated May 14, 2025. The document provides for the development and adoption of a draft law on improving the legal regulation of advocacy by the fourth quarter of 2026.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The Ombudsman acknowledged the problem of violation of the human right to legal aid in the TCC
The Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for human rights Dmytro Lubinets confirmed the existence of a problem with ensuring the constitutional right to professional legal assistance in territorial recruitment and social support centers.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The agreement on the provision of legal assistance is not public – BCU
Bar Council of Ukraine in its decision No. 111 dated October 18, 2025, responded to questions regarding the possibility of concluding legal assistance agreements by accepting a public offer, using an electronic form of the agreement, and posting information about legal assistance on websites.
Discussion
Why preventive measures have turned into preventive punishment in Ukraine: round table discussion
The European approach, enshrined in the CPC, provides for detention as an exceptional preventive measure: courts must prove the impossibility of milder alternatives and carefully assess the risks. In practice, however, it is increasingly being applied almost automatically, eroding standards of freedom.
Publications
Censor.net Protecting advocates – protecting justice: addressing concerns about the new law
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