During 2020 almost every day attorneys applied for violations of their rights
Violations of attorneys' rights remain a central issue in activity of the Ukrainian National Bar Association (hereinafter – UNBA) throughout its existence.
For 9 months of 2020 attorneys 97 times claim the violation of their rights to regional bar councils. During this period Bar Council of Ukraine (hereinafter – BCU) received 83 appeals. The UNBA Committee for the Protection of Attorneys' Rights received 73 appeals during first three quarters of this year.
This was announced by the Head of UNBA, BCU Lidia Izovitova during a meeting of the BCU on December 18th.
The most frequent violations of attorneys' rights occur in Kyiv region and Kyiv city, Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk region. There are the biggest numbers of searches and detentions. Thus, in the third quarter in Ukraine 62 authorized searches of attorneys took place, 18 of them were in the Kyiv region.
During this period, regional bar councils made 95 searches and detains of attorneys. Most often it happened in Kyiv region (36 times), Odessa region (23 councils), Kyiv city (19 times). In addition, during July-September another 33 searches and detentions of attorneys took place without notifications to the regional bar councils, which constitutes a violation of the Law "On the Bar and Legal practice". Kyiv region (18) and Odesa region (8) hold negative records for the number of such cases.
In 2020 the legal community faced the problem of violations of attorneys' rights by judges, and not only the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court. One week ago in the Zaporizhia region there was a glaring case when an attorney was attacked in the courtroom, and law enforcement officers took part in it.
"It is important that these statistics are as widely known as possible, because direct violations of the relevant law should be known not only to attorneys or law enforcement agencies. Journalists and society should be aware about this. We always make every effort to ensure that both specific stories and such analytics are available to the press, and journalists should be our allies in this,” said Lidia Izovitova.
Popular news
Guarantees of the practice of law
Preparations for the ratification of the Convention on the Protection of the Professions of Lawyer are in the final stages
On June 9, the Verkhovna Rada Committee on legal policy held a working meeting to prepare for the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Professions of Lawyer. The Ministry of Justice and the Ukrainian National Bar Association agreed on approaches to draft laws regarding the ratification and implementation of the Convention. Participants have been given 10 days to prepare the draft laws that will be submitted for consideration.
Announcements
Internships at German law firms: IRZ is accepting applications from Ukrainians
In 2026, the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) plans to organize a multilateral internship program for young advocates from partner countries. Participants will attend an introductory seminar in Bonn and complete internships at law firms in Germany.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Restrictions on the right to legal assistance in pretrial detention centers are unacceptable – statement by the BCU
The Bar Council of Ukraine has stated that it is unacceptable to restrict the right to professional legal assistance, the guarantees of legal practice, and the confidentiality of communications between advocates and clients in pretrial detention facilities operated by the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine.
European integration
The UNBA presented the CCBE with an overview of legal reform and challenges
Reform of the legal profession, Ukraine’s European integration commitments, guarantees of the profession’s independence, and practices of bar self-governance in European countries — these issues were the subject of discussion at the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE).
Rule of Law Roadmap
The UNBA is compiling the findings of the subgroups regarding the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap
Today, May 28, the Ukrainian National Bar Association hosted a meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Working Group on the implementation of the Rule of Law Roadmap regarding the reform of the advocacy profession. Following a series of meetings by thematic subgroups, the work is now moving to the stage of consolidating proposals and preparing a coordinated package of recommendations.
Discussion
UNBA discussed removing barriers at border crossings for families with children with disabilities
Families of children with disabilities face additional requirements when traveling abroad, particularly regarding consular registration. What is happening and what changes are needed to remove these obstacles were discussed during the roundtable «Borders without barriers for families of children with disabilities».
Discussion
New rules, old problems: the UNBA discussed the work of the ETAIDF and MMC
The reform of medical-social assessment and military medical commissions has changed procedures but has not resolved practical issues. People face situations where documents are not issued, decisions are based on technicalities, assessments are delayed, and they struggle to demonstrate their actual health status in specific life situations.
Discussion
Co-parenting shouldn't be reduced to a 50/50 formula, — roundtable discussion
Following a divorce, joint custody can serve as a mechanism for ensuring equal parental rights. However, this model requires clear criteria and cannot be applied automatically without taking into account the child’s age, the level of conflict between the parents, the risk of violence, and the feasibility of enforcing the future decision.
Publications
Volodymyr Matsko Extradition during wartime: when the risks outweigh the request
Volodymyr Matsko Extradition as a systemic form of rights violations
Victoria Yakusha, Law and Business The anti-corruption vertical cannot «take care» of the Bar as an institution, - acting head of the HQDCB
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
