Occupied Crimea: human rights lawyer Aleksey Ladin disbarred

The Observatory together with the undersigned international lawyers’ rights and human rights organisations strongly condemn the Tyumen Regional Bar Council’s decision to disbar Russian human rights lawyer Aleksey Ladin in retaliation for his human rights work.

We call on the Russian authorities to revoke this decision, cease harassment against him and guarantee that all lawyers in Russia and Russia-occupied territories can conduct their legitimate professional activities without fear of reprisals.

On 25 July, lawyer Aleksey Ladin was disbarred from the Tyumen Regional Bar Association in retaliation for representing Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians against politically motivated charges in Russian-occupied Crimea. The decision by the Council of the Tyumen Bar Association follows the Qualification Commission’s conclusion that the lawyer violated the Code of Ethics of the Russian Bar Association. Unless this decision is reversed, Mr. Ladin will not be able to represent clients in criminal proceedings and in court, nor take new qualifications exams for a year. Aleksey Ladin plans to appeal the decision.

Read the full joint statement here: https://protect-lawyers.org/wp-content/uploads/Disbarment-Aleksey-Ladin_01.08.2024_final.pdf

Signatories: