On March 24, 2014 Executive Chairman of the Commission Oleg Beliaev, Head of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, Bar Council of Ukraine Lidiya Izovitova, deputy Bar Council Valentyn Gvozdiy, Head of the Higher Revision Bar Commission (President of Ukrainian non-governmental organization “Ukrainian Advocates’ Association” Olga Dmitrieva, Vice-president of Ukrainian non-governmental organization “Ukrainian Bar Association” Oleksiy Reznikov met with acting General Prosecutor of Ukraine Oleg Mahnitskyi and first deputy General Prosecutor Mykola Golomsha. The reason for conducting this meeting lies within the situation around illegal detention of the advocate Denys Bugay as well as procedural violations commited by law enforcement authorities over Mr. Bugay’s arrest (who was unlawfully kept in custody for seven hours after expiration of the statutory 60 hour period). Within this period the person should be released or taken to court for choosing a restrictive measure.
During the meeting principals of self governance bodies emphasized on unacceptability of breaking guarantees of attorney’s activity, envisaged by Article 23 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Bar and Legal Profession” that took place during detention of attorney Denys Bugay, and also noted special rules for investigation that involves advocate. Moreover, during the meeting, there were highlited such problems as restriction of identifiying an attorney with a client and demanding from attorney to provide information within the scope of client-lawyer privilege, for proving client’s guilt, which is not in compliance with supremacy of law.
The meeting resulted in reaching arrangements regarding detailed examination of all the circumstances on the mentioned violations of criminal procedural law commited over the investigation regarding advocate Denys Bugay by General Prosecutor’s Office, under personal control of the acting General Prosecutor of Ukraine, and implementation of necessary measures for preventing future violations of the Law by law enforcement officials.
