Translated by Ollie Richardson & Angelina Siard

12:30:29
08/08/2018

strana.ua

On Tuesday, August 7th in the Court of Appeal of Kiev, radicals from “C14“ attacked the lawyer Oleg Povalyaev. After the lawyer made remarks about the inadmissibility of provocative behavior in court, two of them grabbed the lawyer and a third hit his face. This was reported by the press service of the Ukrainian National Bar Association.

Povalyaev was involved in a court session in which there were also several people bearing symbols of one of the right-wing radical organisations. They behaved openly provocatively, showing a total disregard for the participants of the trial, and tried to disrupt the court session. The lawyer made a remark in their direction, after which he was assaulted.

After a recess was announcement in the court, the lawyer came into contact with the group of approximately 30 people at the exit of the courtroom. They, shouting insults and strong language, started to threaten him with physical violence because the lawyer, according to them, doesn’t defend those “who he should defend”.

The police officers that were present at the time didn’t offer any reaction. In fact, as the association writes, the cops connived with radicals to commit a crime.

“We see one more precedent where unknown persons indicate in a clear ‘way’ to the lawyer who has the right to receive legal aid and who doesn’t. Despite the fact that the Constitution grants such a right to everyone, clearly, the members of this organisation are unaware of the provisions of the Basic law, and the police, although they are aware, are indifferent to violations of the professional rights of lawyers and the constitutional rights of citizens,” said the Chairwoman of the Committee for the protection of the rights of lawyers Anna Boryak.

Oleg Povalyaev gave a statement concerning the criminal offense. He underwent a medical examination in order to establish the severity of his injuries.

This incident will be a topic of consideration at the regular meeting of the Committee for the protection of the rights of lawyers of the Ukrainian National Bar Association, appointed for August 10th, 2018.

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