UNBA Judicial Committee gets a new Chairman
Attorney Andriy Tsygankov has been appointed as the Chairman of the Committee on the Independence of Justice and the Judiciary of the Ukrainian National Bar Association.
Previously, Mr. Tsygankov headed the UNBA's Committees on Information Policy and Ethics.
The Committee on the Independence of Justice and the Judiciary was established in February 2022. Its tasks are as follows:
- scientific and practical study of the current state of judicial proceedings and the judiciary;
- developing generalized proposals and presenting them to the working bodies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and other state authorities, commissions, working groups, etc;
- submitting such proposals and comments to the subjects of legislative initiative and subjects authorized to adopt bylaws related to the judiciary and the judicial system;
- analysis and generalization of law enforcement practice in the field of judicial proceedings, judicial system and judicial independence;
- in agreement with the UNBA management, discussing the formed proposals with judicial and other professional associations;
- holding public events (conferences, roundtables, seminars, etc.) on legal issues and practical implementation of judicial proceedings, judicial system and judicial independence;
- development of training programs aimed at expert discussion of problematic issues, advanced training of attorneys on practical aspects of the functioning of judicial governance and self-government bodies.
The Ukrainian National Bar Association has recently decided to study the effectiveness and accessibility of justice and invited lawyers from the regions to participate. In particular, it is planned to find answers to the following questions: what is the real reason for the length of time for consideration of cases in Ukrainian courts, are lawyers to blame for this problem, and how legitimate is the interference of judges in the competence of the bar's disciplinary bodies?
Popular news
Self-government
A report on Ukrainian advocacy was presented in the European Parliament
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Guarantees of the practice of law
Proceedings opened following attack on advocate in Dnipro
The Committee for the protection of advocates' rights and guarantees of legal practice of the UNBA appealed to law enforcement agencies in connection with an advocate's report of an attack while performing his professional duties. The information was entered into the Unified Register of Pre-trial Investigations and a pre-trial investigation was initiated.
Abroad
UNBA office opens in EU capital
To strengthen the institutional presence of the Ukrainian advocacy community at the European level, an office of the Ukrainian National Bar Association has been opened in Brussels (Belgium), which will serve as a permanent platform for dialogue with European partners.
Guarantees of the practice of law
The President was urged to sign the law on strengthening guarantees for advocacy activities
The professional community of advocates called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign Law No. 4547-IX, which strengthens guarantees for advocates' activities, in particular by introducing liability for identifying an advocate with a client.
Greetings
Lidiya Izovitova received an award from the Czech Bar Association
On January 23, during the gala evening of the Lawyer of the Year 2025 competition in Prague, Monika Novotná, President of the Czech Bar Association (ČAK), presented Lidiya Izovitova, President of the UNBA, BCU, with the Order of the Czech Bar, an award for distinguished representatives of foreign bar associations.
Appointment
Oleksiy Shevchuk appointed to the Competition Commission for the selection of SAPO management
Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko issued order No. 405 of December 23, 2025, on the appointment of members of the Competition Commission, which will select candidates for vacant administrative positions in the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO).
Guarantees of the practice of law
Identifying an advocate with a client is a blow to justice, — V. Gvozdiy
By defending individuals in criminal proceedings, advocates are in fact fighting for every person's right to a fair trial. Therefore, any identification of an advocate with their client is a blow not only to the profession, but also to justice itself.
Guarantees of the practice of law
Impunity for public stigmatization of advocates violates the constitutional right to defense
The prohibition of identifying an advocate with a client is an international standard enshrined in the Law «On advocacy and legal practice». However, without accountability, this guarantee does not work, which poses a direct threat to the realization of the right to defense and the principle of adversarial proceedings.
Publications
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
Iryna Vasylyk Advocacy in the proclamation of Independence of Ukraine
