Ukraine: killing of lawyer must be investigated promptly
The ICJ calls on the Ukrainian authorities to investigate the murder of lawyer Olexandr Ivanov, killed today with an automatic weapon near SIZO (Pre-trial Dentention Centre) №6 in Kropyvnytskyi.
The shooting was carried out from a car by unknown persons. The lawyer died on the spot. Another person injured in the incident was hospitalized in critical condition.
“The killing of lawyer Oleksandr Ivanov must be independently, promptly, and thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice,” said Temur Shakirov, ICJ Senior Legal Adviser.
“Such crimes strip any legal reforms of their positive impact if lawyers’ life is always in danger when exercising their functions,” he added.
The police have confirmed the occurrence of the killing and initiated an investigation preliminarily qualified as intentional murder under article 115-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA) is planning to convene an emergency meeting of the Committee on Protection of Lawyers Rights and Professional Guarantees. The UNBA has also referred to the leadership of regional prosecution and police authorities to bring the case under personal control.
“During its recent mission to Ukraine the ICJ heard of cases of killings of lawyers and this case demonstrates that little progress has been achieved in addressing the security of lawyers in Ukraine,” said Shakirov.
Additional information:
International human rights law, including the European Convention on Human Rights to which Ukraine is a party, requires that states take steps to protect the life and physical integrity of persons who they know or ought to know are at real risk of violence.
According to the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, governments must ensure that lawyers are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference (principle 16). The UN Basic Principles specify that “[w]here the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities” (principle 17).
Popular news
Guarantees of the practice of law
The UNBA presented a report on violations of advocates' rights in the TCC
The Committee for the protection of advocate's rights and guarantees of legal practice of the UNBA has prepared a consolidated report on violations of advocate's professional rights and guarantees of legal practice by territorial recruitment and social support centers for the period from 2022 to the first half of 2025.
Self-government
Statement by the UNBA Committee regarding manipulative journalistic material
Statement by the UNBA Committee on information policy and interaction with the media regarding manipulative journalistic material aimed at discrediting the advocacy institution.
Greetings
Congratulations on the anniversary of the establishment of the Ukrainian National Bar Association
November 17 marks the thirteenth anniversary of the establishment of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, a professional self-governing organization that has united advocates from all regions of the country into a single independent institution.
Guarantees of the practice of law
10 changes necessary for the implementation of the Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate
Most of the standards enshrined in the Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate have already been implemented in Ukrainian legislation. At the same time, in order to ensure a higher level of guarantees for the independence of advocacy, certain amendments should be made to the codes and the relevant law.
Guarantees of the practice of law
L. Izovitova: today advocacy maintains its independence and fights for guarantees for the profession
The Ukrainian advocacy remains an independent, constitutionally recognized institution of justice, which, in the conditions of war, has not only retained its subjectivity, but also consistently fights for guarantees to protect the profession.
Access to the profession
For candidates for the advocate: BCU has reminded them of the rules for crediting teaching experience
For the purposes of admission to the qualification exam, a candidate's work in scientific and teaching positions may be counted as experience in the field of law only if the position requires legal education.
Greetings
Young lawyers of the year named
The Ukrainian Young Lawyers Council honored lawyers who demonstrated the highest level of professional skill, responsibility, and dedication to their profession in 2024–2025.
Discussion
Urban Planning Code: what should the new rules for rebuilding Ukraine be?
Does Ukraine need separate codification in the field of urban planning, which model of law to choose, and how to ensure a balance between the interests of the state, communities, businesses, and citizens in the context of post-war reconstruction?
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
