One third of complaints to the UNBA are due to unlawful actions by the TCC

In the first half of 2025, the Committee for the protection of lawyers' rights and guarantees of advocacy of the Ukrainian National Bar Association recorded 46 complaints of violations of professional rights. A third of these concerned unlawful actions by territorial recruitment centers—systematic obstruction of advocacy or violation of the right to defense.

This is evidenced by data from the Committee's report, published on the UNBA website.

In a number of cases, it is not only a matter of legal abuse, but also of the use of physical force against advocates, blocking access to clients, and pressure during the performance of professional duties. One of the most high-profile incidents was the incident in Kharkiv, when defense lawyer Yulia Palagina was forcibly removed from the premises of the military medical commission and her personal belongings, including documents containing attorney-client privilege, were thrown out.

The Committee responded publicly, sent an appeal to law enforcement agencies, and informed the Ombudsman and the Verkhovna Rada.

According to the report, 43 appeals from lawyers were processed promptly, in response to which the Committee:

• sent 24 official requests to stop the violations and bring those responsible to justice;
• initiated three official investigations;
• secured the opening of two criminal proceedings;
• held five explanatory events at the TCC on the inadmissibility of pressure on lawyers;
• organized ten working meetings with representatives of law enforcement agencies, the Ministry of defense, and the General staff of the Armed forces of Ukraine.

The UNBA pays particular attention to preventing violations during the mobilization of lawyers. The report states that pressure from the TCC not only undermines the right to defense, but also undermines the functioning of the entire legal aid system. That is why the UNBA supported a legislative initiative to grant deferral from mobilization to lawyers who meet certain criteria, in particular, those who have more than 10 years of experience, have valid status, and have not been subject to disciplinary action.

The report also notes an increase in the number of violations during investigative (search) activities. Over the course of six months, representatives of the Committee participated in 79 searches, temporary accesses, and inspections related to the professional activities of advocates. In most cases, representatives recorded:

• the seizure of equipment containing protected information;
• inspections of lawyers' files without court permission;
• searches without a decision by an investigating judge, including at night without proper justification.

In several cases, the court refused to arrest seized property containing attorney-client privilege. In June, the court ruled illegal the arrest of a lawyer's laptop because it contained confidential information, and the Committee representative recorded the violation in the protocol in a timely manner.

The Committee also draws attention to attempts to influence advocates through public discrediting. The report provides examples of the dissemination of commissioned information on little-known websites, threats through private messages, and summonses to the TCC on the day of court hearings.

The report emphasizes that the adoption of the Council of Europe Convention on the protection of the profession of lawyer (signed by 13 states) makes it possible to introduce European standards of guarantees. Among the key provisions of the document are a ban on wiretapping conversations between lawyers and their clients, protection against disclosure of attorney-client privilege, and unimpeded access to defendants, including in places of detention. Ukraine has not yet signed the document. The UNBA believes that ratification of the Convention will strengthen the position of the defense in criminal proceedings and put additional barriers against abuse.

«Overall, the report demonstrates the systematic nature of violations and emphasizes the need for legislative changes, a prompt response from the legal community, and greater respect for the profession on the part of state institutions, - commented Committee chairman Yevgeny Solodko. - We want it to be clear that the advocacy community does not silently accept pressure. The response has always been and will continue to be systematic, professional, and persistent. If we defend each other, no external threat will break our community».

The report is available at link.

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