Some TCCs have become «territories without advocacy» - Lidiya Izovitova

If the prosecution does not like the position of the lawyer, it resorts to pressure, including through territorial centers for recruitment and social support. Physical pressure, accusations of treason, mobilization - all this can be a reaction of the authorities to an active defense.

Lidiya Izovitova, the President of the Ukrainian National Bar Association and the Bar Council of Ukraine, spoke about the problems of lawyers' activities under martial law in her speech at the International Human Rights Conference «Decade 2014-2024. Winning back human rights. Preserving Democracy».

In particular, she recalled that simultaneously with the introduction of martial law (Decree of the President of Ukraine of February 24, 2022 №64/2022), the possibility of restricting a number of constitutional human rights was introduced. However, these restrictions did not affect the right to professional legal assistance, the right of a suspect or accused person to a defense (Articles 59 and 63 of the Constitution). And the bar is responsible for ensuring the realization of these rights (Article 131-2 of the Constitution).

At the same time, there is a practice of preventing lawyers from seeing citizens in the TCC or blocking their work. In particular, the UNBA head reported numerous cases of detention of lawyers, serving of summonses while performing their professional duties, and intimidation.  She cited a recent example when a Kyiv lawyer who was providing legal assistance to a client in the TCC was not allowed to leave the premises and was subjected to moral pressure. The situation was resolved after the Bar Council and the police intervened.

According to L. Izovitova, some TCCs consider themselves «territories without the bar» because police and investigative teams do not even visit them.

Cases of violation of the rights of lawyers by TCC officials have become systemic. Advocates are often met with a summons to clarify their credentials or undergo a preliminary examination, which is essentially a covert way of obstructing their professional activities.

It also seems that the prosecution sometimes uses the «services» of the TCC. After all, representatives of military structures come to searches or courtrooms and serve summonses to lawyers there.

A separate problem is the defense of military personnel in cases where access to information constituting a state secret is required, and therefore lawyers are denied both access and admission.

The President of the UNBA, BCU also noted that lawyers who perform their professional duties in good faith are now subject to condemnation, unfair criticism, hatred and harassment. The reason is that society has formed an expectation that war criminals and other unacceptable criminals do not deserve protection and legal aid. It is believed that a patriotic lawyer should not defend such people, otherwise he or she becomes the same.

For many years, the Ukrainian National Bar Association has been defending its members when they are identified with their clients in publications, during political debates and discussions, - noted L. Izovitova. The position of the Ukrainian National Bar Association remains unwavering despite all the circumstances: the rule of law must be respected.

The conference, which was dedicated to Human Rights Day, was attended by representatives of government agencies, international organizations, human rights defenders and ombudsmen from around the world. Ukrainian lawyers were represented at the event by the UNBA Secretary Igor Kolesnikov, UNBA member Hanna Lazarchuk, Chairman of the UNBA Committee on Investment and Privatization Andriy Shabelnikov, Chairman of the UNBA Committee on Legal Practice Bohdan Kushnir and Head of the UNBA Secretariat Vadym Krasnyk.