TCC in Odesa region responded to violation of lawyer's rights and promised to improve

The Odesa Regional Territorial Centre for Recruitment and Social Support has demanded that the heads of the district TCCs and SPs exclude cases of violation of the advocates' professional rights in their official activities.

The Chairman of the Odesa Regional TCC and JV informed the UNBA Committee on Protection of Advocates' Rights and Guarantees of Practice of Law (by letter No. 943/20873 dated 04.10.2023) about this following the response to the violations that occurred in one of the district centres this summer.

In June of this year, lawyer D., who provided professional legal assistance to the client, arrived at the TCC and JV in Odesa, where he was undergoing a second military medical examination. However, the centre's staff physically prevented her from seeing the client.

After reviewing the materials received, the Committee concluded that the guarantees of the Practice of Law (Article 23 of the Law on the Bar and Practice of Law) in terms of the prohibition of any interference and obstacles to the practice of law, as well as the protection of the life, health, honour and dignity of the advocate by the state, were violated and sent a corresponding appeal to the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

In the appeal, the UNBA Committee reminded of the professional rights of advocates that were violated by the officials of the TCC and the JV:

• to represent and defend the rights, freedoms and interests of individuals in the state authorities, enterprises, institutions and organisations regardless of their form of ownership, by officials and officers whose powers include the resolution of relevant issues;
• to get acquainted at the enterprises, institutions and organisations with the documents and materials necessary for the Practice of Law;
• to draw up and submit applications, complaints, petitions and other legal documents;
• to present petitions and complaints at the reception of officials and officers, -

and also demanded to conduct an internal investigation and organise explanatory work among the staff to prevent violations of professional rights and guarantees of the Ukrainian advocates.