UNBA urged Government to extend priority vaccination on advocates
UNBA urged Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry of Health of Ukraine, and National Security and Defense Council to extend of priority vaccination on advocates, subject to their individual consent.
The relevant decision was made by the Bar Council of Ukraine (hereinafter – BCU) on the session on April 2 of 2021.
BCU emphasized that judicial system continued operation during the quarantine since the constitutional right to judicial protection must not be restricted even in the state of emergency.
At the same time, the State Judicial Administration of Ukraine in a letter dated March 20, 2020, № 14-5711/20 noted that the institutions of the justice system can be classified as institutions at risk of coronavirus infection, and the Council of Judges of Ukraine in a letter dated March 16, 2020, № 9-rs- 186/20 recommended that courts introduce a special regime of courts for the period of quarantine measures.
Despite the introduction of quarantine and the epidemic situation in Ukraine due to the spread of acute respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, attorneys have performed and continue to perform their professional duties, including providing legal assistance. Thus, attorneys did not stop for a single day, even during periods of rapid growth in the incidence of acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
The Bar Council of Ukraine stressed that only during the last week of March 2021 it became known about the death of two practicing attorneys from this disease. Many attorneys have contracted acute respiratory illness COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in connection with their professional duties, as the attorney`s work is directly related to daily communication with clients, law enforcement officers, judges, experts, witnesses, constant movement by regions, visiting remand centers, colonies, hospitals, etc.
On February 8, 2021, UNBA and the BCU addressed Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with a request to include attorneys in the list of persons subject to priority vaccination (letter № 153/0 / 2-21 of 08.02.0221). However, the UNBA did not receive a response to this letter.
After discussing the situation, BCU decided to send a second appeal to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the National Security and Defense Council to include attorneys in the priority vaccination register.
Popular news
Guarantees of the practice of law
The process of signing the Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate was taken under control by t…
The Ministry of Justice sent the text of the translation of the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the advocate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs «for review and approval». The main legal authority also expressed its support for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the signing and ratification of this Convention.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Statement by the UNBA Committee on the «National Police investigation»
The media is spreading news that the National Police of Ukraine is allegedly investigating a criminal offense committed by the leadership of the Ukrainian National Bar Association.
Discussion
Without the protection of advocates, there will be no fair trials in Ukraine — forum in Odesa
Identifying an advocate with their client undermines the foundations of justice, as it deprives individuals of the opportunity to exercise their right to defense, forces advocates to avoid participating in high-profile cases, and ultimately renders procedural guarantees meaningless. Without this, fair trial is impossible.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The number of cases where advocates are identified with their clients is growing – UNBA report
Advocates are increasingly being held hostage to political processes, with them being equated with their clients. Such actions undermine the independence of the profession and create an atmosphere of intimidation, as a result of which Ukrainian citizens are deprived of their right to defense.
Legislation
What data is sufficient to initiate an investigation – UNBA comments on draft law No. 12439
The problem of law enforcement pressure on business remains one of the most acute for the Ukrainian economy. The lack of regulation of certain procedures in the Criminal Procedure Code leads to abuses, as a result of which entrepreneurs find themselves in a state of legal uncertainty.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Law on advocacy and the Council of Europe Convention: the UNBA assessed compliance (comparative table)
The Ukrainian National Bar Association has prepared and published a comparative table showing the extent to which Ukrainian legislation complies with the provisions of the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The Verkhovna Rada is waiting for the Minister of Justice to take action on signing the Convention on the protection of t…
Ukraine, which was directly involved in the preparation of the world's first Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the profession of advocate, has still not signed it. There appear to be no formal objections, but no real steps have been taken towards accession either.
Abroad
Australian advocate apologizes in court for fake AI quotes
In Australia, a royal advocate apologized to a judge for submitting documents in a criminal case against a teenager accused of murder that contained fabricated quotes and non-existent court decisions generated by artificial intelligence.
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
