Violation of the rights of lawyers in the TCC: UNBA initiates a meeting with the military authorities

In order to resolve the situation and interaction between the territorial centers of recruitment and social support and lawyers who perform their professional duties in the framework of protecting clients and providing them with professional legal assistance, the Ukrainian National Bar Association proposed to organize a joint meeting with representatives of the President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and the Commander of the Land Forces.

Lidiya Izovitova, the President of the UNBA, BCU addressed the President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Commander of the Land Forces with the relevant letters pursuant to the decision of the BCU of 08.06.2024 No. 38.

Fulfilling its constitutional purpose in a democratic legal society, the Bar under martial law continues to protect the legal rights of Ukrainian citizens, including during mobilization.

At the same time, there is a practice of excluding lawyers from participating in the provision of legal aid to mobilized citizens by the officials of the TCC. This leads to a violation of the human right to defense and legal aid provided for by the Constitution of Ukraine.

Today, unpopular mobilization events are increasingly common, when the actions of individual representatives of the TCC and police actually go beyond their authority, leading to gross violations of the law, violations of human rights and freedoms, which has negative consequences for the image of the state and the Armed Forces, as well as for compliance with the requirements of the law in the military sphere.

In addition, the systematic violation of human and civil rights and freedoms by the TCC employees demotivates citizens to fulfill their constitutional duty to defend the Motherland. To a large extent, the violations are caused by the fact that persons liable for military service are unprotected and cannot use the assistance of a lawyer.

At the same time, in many cases, lawyers themselves remain unprotected. The UNBA receives numerous appeals from advocates about violations of professional rights and guarantees of the practice of law by TCC employees, interference in professional activities, violence against defense lawyers, illegal deprivation of liberty, and confiscation of personal belongings, including those containing attorney-client privilege, in connection with the exercise of professional legal services.

Citing specific cases of violations of the rights of lawyers, the BCU notes that they are unacceptable in a democratic and law-based state. It also hinders the effective and proper performance of the professional duties of advocates in providing legal aid to the population of the country, including military personnel and citizens liable for military service. The systematic violation of the rights of lawyers cannot be justified by martial law.