Ukrainian National Bar Association alleges media campaign, accuses NABU
The Ukrainian National Bar Association alleged a media campaign and accused NABU (proto: RBC-Ukraine)
The Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA) has claimed it is facing pressure and a targeted media campaign allegedly organized by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), citing an official statement by the UNBA.
According to the UNBA's Committee for the Protection of Lawyers' Rights and Guarantees of Legal Practice, false and manipulative information is being spread in the media space. The committee states that this information damages the reputation of the legal profession and undermines public trust in the institution of advocacy.
The UNBA considers such actions a form of pressure on the professional activities of lawyers.
“The dissemination of false information damages the reputation and undermines the authority of the legal profession in the eyes of the public. Moreover, the systematic promotion of such materials shows signs of unlawful pressure on the constitutional institution,” the UNBA's Committee for the Protection of Lawyers’ Rights and Guarantees of Legal Practice stated.
The Association reported that it has submitted appeals to media outlets and law enforcement agencies, urging them to stop the spread of inaccurate information and to investigate possible contractual relations between certain organizations and media representatives.
Additionally, the Committee noted that it may submit formal complaints to law enforcement regarding the possible commission of crimes by a group of individuals who could be involved in the discreditation campaign against lawyers.
Committee Chairman Yevhen Solodko, in a Facebook post, emphasized that the media attacks are intended to divert public attention from what he described as unlawful actions by NABU. In particular, he pointed to the illegal wiretapping of lawyers, which he claims violates guarantees of attorney-client privilege.
Earlier, the Prosecutor General’s Office opened criminal proceedings regarding unlawful entry into lawyers' offices, surveillance, and alleged abuse of authority by NABU and SAPO personnel.
The media has also reported an incident in which NABU detectives stopped a car driven by attorney Borzyk at a checkpoint, with her two young children inside. The children were blocked in the vehicle for nearly two hours without contact with their mother, and authorities reportedly prohibited calling another lawyer.
Legal expert Oleh Shram argued that NABU’s actions exceed its legal mandate, as they are unrelated to corruption crimes, and predicted potential criminal liability for specific NABU employees.
Additionally, reports surfaced about the arrest of a NABU representative allegedly involved in the production and distribution of illegal drugs. According to investigators, the criminal group he led manufactured amphetamines and smuggled chemical precursors. The group’s monthly profits were estimated at over 50 million hryvnias (approximately $1,2 mln).
