European lawyers address Minister of Justice
The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe has addressed Belarusian Minister of Justice Viktar Halavanau with an open letter, expressing its concern over the recent facts of harassment of Belarusian advocates.
“Recent moves include the initiation and endorsement of disbarment proceedings against several lawyers by the Minsk Municipal Bar Association at the request of the Ministry of Justice and attempts at preventing them from carrying out their professional duties with respect to their clients”, says the letter.
The letter, signed by the Council’s President Mr. Georges-Albert Dal, calls upon the Belarusian authorities to renew the attorney’s licenses of Pavel Sapelka, Uladzimir Toustsik, Tamara Harayeva, Tatsiana Aheyeva and Aleh Aheyeu.