A strong team and political bias have become the key to the successful development of UNBA, - Valentyn Gvozdiy

The successful development of the National Bar Association of Ukraine is the result of effective teamwork and non-interference in political processes.
This was stated by UNBA Vice-President Valentyn Gvozdiy during the conference "EU and Eastern Neighborhood" at the Hague (Netherlands), organized by LINKS Europe in cooperation with the Hague City Council and with the support of The Hague Humanity Hub.
"Ms. Lidiya Izovitova, as the UNBA President, was able to create a team that includes all generations. This is the key to our success - the involvement of all generations. We can be strong only when we work as a team," he said.
Valentyn Gvozdiy emphasized that the main role of advocates is to protect the citizens of Ukraine, clients, and business. And given that opponents of advocates are often public authorities, the bar cannot afford to interfere in political processes in any way so as not to create vulnerabilities.
"We are not a political institution, we are always outside the political process, because it is a guarantee of our independence," he said.
According to him, for 9 years of work and absorption of international experience, the Ukrainian National Bar Association has demonstrated that in Ukraine can be created powerful institutions in the justice system that will promote the rule of law.
"I believe that the rule of law in Ukraine is on the right track. And the current situation is not as bad as one might think. Of course, we still have work to do. We communicate with partners from all countries of the Eastern Partnership and other neighboring countries and I can assure you - in Ukraine the situation in this direction is quite good, "- said UNBA Vice-President.
In a podcast for LINKS Europe, Valentyn Gvozdiy added that UNBA already has experience that it can share with European colleagues, both in terms of institutional development experience and in terms of practical solutions for advocates.
"We were created from scratch, our organization is only 9 years old and we have the opportunity to do everything in a very modern way. While our European colleagues are in a sense bound by their traditions. They cannot change many processes, such as the ongoing training of advocates. We, in turn, have developed a modern platform and are already doing everything online and sharing our experience in this direction with European colleagues, "he said.
He stressed that, in the future, UNBA would like to become more involved in the work of international organizations of advocates, in particular, CCBE and have more rights in the organization, including the right to vote.
"The CCBE represents the legal profession before the Council of Europe. Ukraine is a member of the Council of Europe. And it is very strange when we, as representatives of the European legal profession, cannot vote in this organization, "said UNBA Vice-President.
Popular news

Advocacy
The Bar Council of Ukraine appealed to the High Council of Justice due to delays in forming the Competition Commission of t…
On June 13, 2025, Lidiya Izovitova, President of the Bar Council of Ukraine, addressed Grigory Usik, Head of the High Council of Justice, regarding the violation of the deadlines for forming a new composition of the Competition Commission for the selection of members of the High Qualification Commission of Judges of Ukraine.

Advocacy
UNBA calls for compliance with Council of Europe standards for the legal profession
The recently approved roadmap for EU accession in terms of bar reform refers to non-existent European standards and was adopted in violation of international principles. Therefore, before talking about changes, it is necessary to compare the current model of the bar with the Council of Europe standards embodied in the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer.

Advocacy
Mobilization of advocates in court: UNBA records another case of pressure
The Ukrainian advocacy has once again faced extrajudicial influence on advocates with the aim of obstructing the exercise of their legitimate powers related to the provision of professional legal assistance to clients.

Advocacy
BCU demands verification of authenticity of SSU letter on «dangerous» advocacy
The Bar Council of Ukraine will appeal to the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, regarding the verification of information about «negative trends in the legal profession» disseminated by some media outlets on behalf of the SSU.

Advocacy
Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Advocate open for signature
Thirteen member states of the Council of Europe have signed the Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Advocate, which was adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on March 12, 2025. Four more countries will do so today. Ukraine is not among them.

Advocacy
BCU initiates resolution of the issue of visits by advocates to convicted persons
Article 110 of the Criminal Enforcement Code guarantees convicted persons confidentiality of meetings with their advocate. One of the important elements is the possibility to communicate with an advocate in a room without a solid partition. In practice, this provision of the law is systematically violated.

Advocacy
Advocates, academics, and experts examine problems in forensic examination (video)
The Ukrainian National Bar Association, in cooperation with leading scientific and research institutes of forensic expertise, organized a round table on expert support for legal practice.

Advocacy
Does the mobilization of a lawyer violate the human right to defense - conclusion of the Supreme Court
Article 335 of the CPC provides for the suspension of court proceedings only in cases where the accused was called up for military service during mobilization. However, this provision does not apply to the mobilization of a defense counsel.
Publications

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

Lydia Izovitova Interview with Lydia Izovitova on the occasion of the 8th anniversary of the founding of UNBA: We are the voice of t…