Statement on the conviction of Belarusian lawyer Yuliya Yurhilevich
28 augustus 2023

Statement on the conviction of Belarusian lawyer Yuliya Yurhilevich

Belarus

Yuliya Yurhilevich has practiced law for 18 years and has defended human rights activists as well as victims of politically motivated prosecutions. According to information held by the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) Yuliya Yurhilevich was accused of “repeatedly aiding extremist activity”. On 26 July 2023, Yuliya was sentenced to six years imprisonment.

According to information held by CCBE, Yuliya was accused of sharing information with the journalist Pavel Mazheika about her disbarment and about a court case. Pavel is a well-known figure in Belarus working for independent news outlets, among them Belsat TV, which has been labeled “extremist” by the Belarusian authorities. While the shared information was already widely available to the public through government websites, both Yuliya and Pavel were accused and sentenced for “promoting extremist activities”. Both Yuliya and Pavel pleaded not guilty but have been sentenced to six years imprisonment.

Before Yuliya was sentenced to six years in prison on 26 July 2023, she was first disbarred by the regional bar association of Hrodna in February 2022, for “systematic violation of the law”.

Appeal to the Belarusian authorities

Lawyers play a vital role in upholding the rule of law and the protection of human rights and their work is indispensable for public confidence in the administration of justice and to ensure access to justice for all.

Lawyers for Lawyers would like to draw your attention to the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, particularly Article 16, 18 and 23, which state:

 16. Governments shall ensure that lawyers (a) are able to perform all of their professional functions without intimidation, hindrance, harassment or improper interference; (…) and (c) shall not suffer, or be threatened with, prosecution or administrative, economic or other sanctions for any action taken in accordance with recognized professional duties, standards and ethics.

18. Lawyers shall not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their functions.

23. Lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression, belief, association, and assembly. In particular, they shall have the right to take part in public discussion of matters concerning the law, the administration of justice and the promotion and protection of human rights and to join or form local, national or international organizations and attend their meetings, without suffering professional restrictions by reason of their lawful action or their membership in a lawful organization. (…)

The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) has already urged the president of Belarus to do everything in his power to restore the freedom of Yuliya Yurhilevich and to drop all charges against her. Further, the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers drew attention to gross violation of the norms of international law in connection with the prosecution and has demanded the immediate release of Yuliya Yurhilevich.

In view of the above, Lawyers for Lawyers respectfully urges the Belarusian authorities to overturn Yuliya Yurhilevich’s conviction and to reinstate her to the bar.

Read full statement here.

Meer nieuws uit Belarus

26 juni 2024

International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: public letter to the Belarusian authorities on the continued incommunicado detention of Maksim Znak

Belarus

On 26 June, the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Lawyers for Lawyers expresses concern over the continued incommunicado detention of lawyer Maksim Znak. According to information received, Mr Znak has now been refused access to his family

Lees verder
16 april 2024

‘Flight to Lithuania’ — interview with Natalia Matskevich and Paulius Griciunas

Belarus

A new law has been passed in Lithuania which allows lawyers from outside the European Union to register as third-party lawyers in Lithuania. This legislative advance is of great symbolic importance according to Belarusian lawyer Natalia Matskevich. By Trudeke Sillevis

Lees verder
21 maart 2024

Joint oral statement to Human Rights Council on Belarus

Belarus

On 19 March 2024, Lawyers for Lawyers, the Law Society of England and Wales, and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute delivered an oral statement during the interactive dialogue on the interim oral update of the High Commissioner on the situation of

Lees verder
7 februari 2024

Report on Belarus: The Crisis of the Legal Profession Continued Repressions 2022 – 2023

Belarus

In cooperation with the American Bar Association (ABA) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the Center for Constitutionalism and Human Rights, Right to Defense, and Lawyers for Lawyers have prepared this report to summarize the ongoing worrying

Lees verder