“On July 16, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported in the second reading of the Bill No. 12320 on the prohibition of identifying a lawyer with the client. The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti -Corruption Policy stated that they were preparing a blocking resolution for the bill. This was reported by the chairman of this committee Anastasia Radina. According to her, the bill No. 12320 will allow media to administrative responsibility “simply for the mention of what”, – WRITE ON: ua.news
On July 16, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported in the second reading of the Bill No. 12320 on the prohibition of identifying a lawyer with the client. The Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anti -Corruption Policy stated that they were preparing a blocking resolution for the bill.
About it reported The chairman of this committee Anastasia Radina.
According to her, the bill No. 12320 will allow media to administrative responsibility “simply for mentioning that a certain lawyer represented or represents the interests of a particular person.”
Radina noted that if the law came into force, then for a phrase like “Victor Serdyuk – lawyer Viktor Yanukovych”, the journalist will be able to fine from 3400 to 5100 UAH.
“And if this“ violation ”will take place during the year – then from 10200 UAH to 13600 UAH. The lawyers themselves will be initiated, ”the committee head explained.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech Yaroslav Yurchyshyn called the relevant bill “a real attack on freedom of speech.”
Yurchyshyn noted that he plans to appeal to international partners to evaluate this bill. And if the bill will still be signed – it will turn to the President of Ukraine with a proposal to veto.
Bill No. 12320, among other things, proposes to ban public – including through the media, journalists and public associations – identification of the lawyer and his client.
The initiators of the bill state that it is aimed at “creating a real and effective mechanism for the protection of lawyers and guarantees of their professional activity, which in practice will contribute to the realization of the constitutional rights of citizens for professional legal assistance.”
The explanatory note states that “the problem of violation of advocacy guarantees, including the prohibition of identifying a lawyer with the client, has now become a special acuteness.”
According to the authors of the document, this is due, in particular, to the “sharp increase in the number” of criminal offenses related to the consideration of court cases regarding the restriction of the rights of people related to the Russian Federation.
“Each such fact is of concern in a society that is often rejected to lawyers, who, by fulfilling their professional duty, protect the rights and legitimate interests of their clients,” the explanatory note reads.
