The government has involved a Member of Parliament who has a conviction from the High Anti-Corruption Court and a suspicion notice from NABU in the reform of the Bar. This concerns Anatolii Hunko, who will now work within a working group tasked with preparing amendments to legislation on the legal profession. In August 2023, NABU… Continue reading The Bar reform involves an MP convicted by the High Anti-Corruption Court and suspected by NABU
Over the past three years, the European Commission has repeatedly emphasised the need to reform the Ukrainian Bar. As of the beginning of this year, Ukraine had around 70,000 practising attorneys. In addition, the Bar has a significant influence on the establishment of the rule of law within the justice system, given attorneys’ exclusive role… Continue reading The European Commission demands Bar reform, but there is no progress — presentation of the Bar Reform Roadmap
For three years in a row, the European Commission has been highlighting the need to reform the Bar as part of Ukraine’s European integration path. However, the Ukrainian authorities didn’t take tangible steps in this direction. This Policy Brief outlines the key challenges facing the functioning of the Bar, such as concentration of power and… Continue reading Reforming the Bar on the Path to the European Union
A journalist may now face administrative liability and a fine of up to 13,000 UAH simply for writing the sentence: “Vitalii Serdiuk was Viktor Yanukovych’s attorney.” All this is the result of Draft Law No. 12320, which was adopted today by the Verkhovna Rada. The draft law received 262 votes in favour from a coalition… Continue reading Verkhovna Rada cracks down on freedom of speech: MPs introduce censorship disguised as “protection of lawyers”
The past is returning, rushing to take the place of international experts in the Selection Commission. A long-time ally of Medvedchuk, Lidiia Izovitova, is eager to swiftly appoint her delegate. On June 1, the mandate of the international experts responsible for selecting candidates to the High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ) expired. This body plays… Continue reading Rushing while it’s hot: the Bar Council is racing to nominate to the Selection Commission of the High Qualification Commission
The European Commission has reiterated its expectation that Ukraine must cleanse the Supreme Court. This demand is highlighted in the Commission’s latest report. Over a year ago, following the scandal involving Vsevolod Knyazev, the European Commission emphasized the need to address corruption risks within the Supreme Court. However, no significant changes have been made since… Continue reading The European Commission expects Ukraine to reform the Supreme Court and overhaul the bar bodies
On October 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky imposed personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) against traitors to the state, enacting a decision of the National Security and Defense Council. The list includes 90 individuals, nearly one-third of whom are attorneys, with 82% still holding valid legal practice licenses. These sanctions target those acting against… Continue reading Under sanctions but still practicing: President imposes sanctions on 90 individuals — nearly a third are attorneys
The reform of the Bar is urgent, the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA) is not trusted, a unified Bar exam should be introduced, the professional development of attorneys should be de-monopolised, and disciplinary proceedings are not transparent and effective – this is the opinion of the majority of experts who have been surveyed by the… Continue reading 94% of respondents believe that the Bar reform is necessary and urgent – RPR survey
Recently, DEJURE Foundation highlighted how the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA) has been concealing the amount it has transferred to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other law enforcement agencies since February 24, 2022. It now appears there was a reason for this secrecy: it seems no funds were transferred at all. DEJURE recalls… Continue reading Lost donation: did the Ukrainian National Bar Association and bar councils really not transfer funds to the armed forces?
The leaders of the Bar Council of Ukraine (BCU) and Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA), Lidiya Izovitova and Valentyn Gvozdiy, continue to tighten the screws on the work of Ukrainian attorneys, even though their tenures ended in 2022. On July 8, the BCU published a seemingly technical decision No. 34, requiring: What’s Wrong with the… Continue reading Professional Development Worth Millions: How Izovitova and Gvozdiy Profit from the Attorneys’ School
Hundreds of attorneys who openly collaborate with the Russian occupation authorities and even head their Bar associations remain in the register of Ukrainian attorneys. Meanwhile, the Bar Council of Ukraine (BCU) and Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA), led by Lidia Izovitova and Valentyn Hvozdiy, have taken an entirely passive stance towards them. A good example… Continue reading Inaction Towards Collaborators and the Hunt for Independent Attorneys: In Whose Interests Do the Bar Bodies Act?
The Bar is the only side of the justice triangle that has not yet been reformed, and without it, judicial reform will not be holistic. We are convinced that legislative changes are necessary to address issues of legitimacy, efficiency, and transparency of the Bar self-governing bodies, corruption, particularly in access to the profession and practice… Continue reading The Bar
