Jun 16, 2015 | News
On 17 June, the ICJ will observe proceedings before the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic concerning searches of the workplace and homes of lawyers Valerian Vakhitov and Khusanbay Salieyv by law enforcement agents.
The case concerns confidentiality of lawyer-client communications and seizure of lawyers’ files, in light of the prohibition of arbitrary interference with privacy, correspondence, and home.
The Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic is to consider the challenge of the Prosecutor’s Office to the decision of the Regional Osh Court of 30 April 2015.
The prosecutor also seeks disciplinary measures against the judges of the Regional Court who decided in favour of the protection of the professional guarantees of lawyers, ruling that the searches and seizures of documents were illegal.
The ICJ trial observation mission includes Olga Zimareva, a lawyer practicing in the Russian Federation and Almaz Osmanova, a lawyer in the Kyrgyz Republic and chair of the Central Asian League of Lawyers.
Following the conclusion of the case, the ICJ will publish its analysis of the proceedings and the judgment of the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic in light of international human rights law and international standards on the independence of the judiciary and the role of lawyers.
Contact:
Róisín Pillay, Director, Europe Programme, roisin.pillay(a)icj.org
Temur Shakirov, Legal Adviser, Europe Programme, temur.shakirov(a)icj.org
Kyrgyzstan-Trial observation-News-Web story-2015-RUS (full text in PDF, Russian)
Jun 10, 2015 | News
The ICJ today welcomed the opinion by The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) condemning as arbitrary the detention of prominent human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and calling on the Government of Swaziland to ensure his immediate release.
Jun 10, 2015 | News
The ICJ today welcomed the decision of a Tunisian constitutional commission declaring a new law on the High Judicial Council (HJC) to be unconstitutional
Jun 9, 2015 | News
The ICJ today organized a diplomatic dialogue, in advance of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), with ambassadors and high-level diplomatic representatives, to share the state of human rights in Myanmar.
May 18, 2015 | News
From 18 to 22 May, the ICJ will carry out a mission to the Russian Federation to examine questions related to the independence and integrity of the legal profession, access to an independent lawyer and the right to an effective defence.
The mission will address the role of Bar Associations in protecting the independence of lawyers, as well as obstacles faced by individual lawyers in protecting the rights of their clients.
The ICJ mission, led by Wilder Tyler, the ICJ Secretary General, will hold meetings with leading Russian experts in the field.
The mission will also meet with the representatives of the Federal Chamber of Lawyers, government officials, and independent lawyers and will take part in two round table discussion with legal scholars and practicing lawyers.
A comprehensive report analyzing the main findings will follow the mission and will present recommendations for reform of law and practice in light of international law and standards on the role of lawyers.
Contact:
Róisín Pillay, Director, Europe Programme, roisin.pillay(a)icj.org
Temur Shakirov, Legal Adviser, Europe Programme, temur.shakirov(a)icj.org
