Lawyers are being subjected to information warfare, direct threats, and blackmail. This was stated today, August 7, at a press conference titled “The Unacceptability of Pressure on Lawyers Due to Their Professional Activities,” which took place at the Odesa Regional Bar Association, according to UNN.

Vitaliy Hrytsyk, managing partner of the “Dominanta” law firm, said that he has personally faced intense pressure that is currently being exerted on him and his firm. “I’m receiving direct threats—both by phone and in person,” says the attorney. “Trashy online outlets are flooded with fake posts about clients who were allegedly defrauded by our firm, “And all of this is connected to just one case—the inheritance of our client Anna Chornobay following the death a year ago of her husband, Volodymyr, the founder of the ‘Teletrade’ group of companies.” “Currently, some of the deceased’s partners are using threats and information blackmail to prevent the widow from exercising her legal right and are demanding a substantial sum of money,” emphasized Vitaliy Hrytsyk.

At the same time, the attorneys emphasized that they have no connection whatsoever to the activities of the “Teletrade” group of companies. The “Dominanta” Association represents exclusively the interests of the widow and her minor children, who turned to the lawyers for legal assistance.

During the press conference, Vitaliy Hrytsyk noted that, for ethical reasons, he would not name the former partner of Volodymyr Chornobay at “Teletrade” who is threatening him, however, law enforcement agencies have comprehensive information and evidence regarding his obstruction of legal practice.

Yosyp Bronz, Chairman of the Odesa Regional Bar Association and Honored Lawyer of Ukraine, described such incidents as a dangerous trend that undermines the foundations of the legal profession and deprives citizens of their right to a defense. He noted that such actions against colleagues must be immediately made public and brought to an end.

Denis Ponomarenko, a partner at Barristers Law Firm, chairman of the Odesa branch of the All-Ukrainian public organization “Association of Lawyers of Ukraine,” reminded everyone of the criminal liability for obstructing a defense attorney’s lawful activities, and especially for threats directed at a lawyer in connection with his or her professional activities.

Oleksandr Baiderin, a member of the All-Ukrainian Public Organization “Association of Lawyers of Ukraine,” urged his colleagues to report such incidents to law enforcement and to bar self-governing bodies, and to unite in the fight against them. The lawyer also appealed to journalists to verify information and sent a message to those behind smear campaigns against lawyers: “This is ineffective, it won’t work, and it won’t scare anyone. You’d be better off spending your money on good causes.”