Ukrainian national bar association filed a complaint with the Prosecutor General about NABU violations
Ukrainian national bar association filed a complaint with the Prosecutor General about NABU violations (photo: RBC-Ukraine)
The Ukrainian National Bar Association has filed a statement with the Office of the Prosecutor General and the State Bureau of Investigation regarding violations committed by National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine – specifically, an illegal search and the installation of surveillance equipment ("bugging") in a law firm office in Kyiv, citing an official letter from the Association.
"The detectives not only conducted wiretapping and entered the law firm’s office in the center of the capital, but also carried out an illegal search prior to a ruling by an investigative judge and without appropriate legal grounds, thereby grossly violating the rights and lawful interests of the lawyers", the letter states.
The Association notes that the search was conducted without a court ruling or even a basic order from the prosecutor. At the same time, NABU detectives were aware that they were entering a law office, as the address is officially registered in the Bar Register.
In addition to the office premises, the detectives simultaneously searched the homes of the lawyers, where their wives and young children were present. Meanwhile, the lawyers themselves were effectively blocked by investigative actions taking place at the office.
However, no documents or items were seized as a result of the search.
According to the Association, the decision to conduct the illegal search was made by NABU detective Fedor Oliinyk, and a request for a search warrant was approved post-factum by a High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) judge.
The Association views NABU’s actions as “criminal intent”. In its opinion, the detectives aimed to gain access to confidential information shared by clients with their lawyers and to learn about the defense’s future strategy.
The surveillance devices were discovered by the lawyers themselves, hidden in the floors of certain offices, including the conference room where meetings with clients were held.
The Association emphasizes that the NABU investigative group includes detectives who are involved in cases against the clients of the targeted lawyers.
The Bar Association is calling on the Prosecutor General to intervene in the situation and initiate criminal proceedings against the NABU officials involved, citing violations under Articles 162, 365, and 397 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (unlawful entry into another person’s premises and unlawful searches carried out by public officials; abuse of power or official authority; and actions by officials that obstruct the lawful activities of defense attorneys or legal representatives providing legal assistance).
