A path into the legal profession is opening up for Pavlo Vovk after the Supreme Court refused to reinstate him as a judge. Vovk suspended his right to practice law back in 2007, but he can renew it very quickly. Pavlo Vovk would then join the team of Lidia Izovitova and Andriy Yermak, and together… Continue reading Pavlo Vovk may renew his attorney license
The Congress of Attorneys of Ukraine may finally be held. At the congress, which was supposed to take place back in 2022, the head of the Bar Council of Ukraine (BCU) and the National Bar Association of Ukraine (NBAU), members of the BCU and other bar governance bodies were to be re-elected. However, its convening… Continue reading Attorneys are collecting signatures to unblock the Congress of Attorneys
In Ukraine, admission to the Bar requires a law degree, proficiency in the national language, completion of an internship, and passing a qualification exam. However, this procedure does not include an assessment of the candidate’s ethics or integrity. As a result, individuals with serious reputational issues or prior disciplinary violations can easily obtain attorney status.… Continue reading Research Summary. Integrity Vetting For Admission To The Bar: Experience Of Democratic Countries
The Office of the Prosecutor General has opened an absurd criminal proceeding against officials of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP). They are allegedly accused of abusing power or official position for the purpose of obtaining unlawful benefit (Article 364 of the Criminal Code). In reality, the reason is that the leadership of the… Continue reading How the Bar Association and the Prosecutor General joined forces to pressure the NACP over the anti-corruption strategy
The High Council of Justice (HCJ) unanimously recognised that the actions of the Bar self-governance bodies in holding HCJ member Roman Maselko disciplinarily liable constituted interference in his activities. The HCJ once again emphasised that such actions discredit its work as an independent constitutional body and undermine the authority of the judiciary as a whole.… Continue reading The High Council of Justice recognized the actions of bar self-governance bodies as interference in the activities of its member and as discrediting the Council’s decisions
This article was originally published in Ukrainian in ZN.UA. Reform of the Bar has long been overdue, yet the system itself remains closed and oriented toward self-preservation. Today, when changes have become part of Ukraine’s European obligations, it is trying to hold on to its positions. The Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA) has launched a… Continue reading Lobbying, PR, and a Russian trail: how Bar self-governance is selling the old system
Andriy Yermak — former head of the Office of the President, and recently also the head of a committee within the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA). An article published by Ukrainska Pravda examines the crisis in Ukraine’s legal profession, the influence of figures linked to pro-Russian oligarch Viktor Medvedchuk, and how Andriy Yermak fits into… Continue reading Yermak enters the game: how Izovitova manages to avoid reform of the Bar
Despite scandals, disciplinary decisions, and a failed integrity assessment, Oleksii Shevchuk is seeking to become a judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Moreover, he aims to become the first ICC judge in history from Ukraine. This is yet another attempt by Shevchuk to secure a high-level position. Previously, he sought to become the Director… Continue reading Oleksii Shevchuk seeks to become a judge of the International Criminal Court
The Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of the Bar (QDCB) of Zakarpattia Region has held High Council of Justice (HCJ) member Roman Maselko disciplinarily liable for alleged violations of legal ethics. In practice, Maselko received a warning. However, the very existence of such a decision signals a return to old practices — bodies of bar self-governance… Continue reading Pressure on a member of the High Council of Justice: the Maselko case as a diagnosis for the Bar
Source: NV. People linked to the Portnov–Medvedchuk–Tatarov circle continue to retain influence over important processes in the country, despite the overall demand to counter hostile agents. For many years, the Ukrainian Bar has been headed by Lidiya Izovitova, a long-time associate of Viktor Medvedchuk. Her leadership of the Ukrainian National Bar Association of Ukraine (UNBA)… Continue reading The shadow of Portnov and Medvedchuk: what does Yermak’s appointment to the Bar Association committee mean?
Andrii Yermak, former Head of the Office of the President, has been appointed to lead one of the committees of the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA). He was appointed by UNBA Chair Lidiya Izovitova, a long-time associate of Viktor Medvedchuk. There is no doubt that this is the same Yermak: the register of advocates lists… Continue reading Yermak appointed head of a committee of the Ukrainian National Bar Association
The Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of the Bar (QDCB) of the Vinnytsia region is set to consider disciplinary cases against members of the High Qualifications Commission of Judges (HQCJ), Ruslan Sydorovych and Roman Sabodash. They will be assessed in their capacity as attorneys, even though the complaints concern their work in the office at the… Continue reading Lawyers’ self-governance “tries” members of the High Qualifications Commission of Judges: how pressure is justified as protection
