Baku / 23.02.18 / Turan: The measures envisaged by the decree of the Azerbaijani President on the development of the legal profession on February 22 actually mean taking the Bar under the control of the government. This was stated by expert in the field of law Elman Fattah.
The statement about the desire to improve the professionalism of lawyers, strengthen the legal profession and provide the population with reliable legal defense is nothing more than words.
"If so, how can one explain that the most professional, competent and honest lawyers are excluded from the Bar under far-fetched pretense? So, what is written in the order does not correspond to what happens in real life," Fattah said.
The increase in the size of payments for lawyer services, the provision of buildings and legal advice offices to the Bar in the regions, in fact, aims to take the Bar under the control of the authorities.
"Previously, the authorities took control of the media and the courts, and now they establish control over the Bar. In fact, the independent institute of the Bar is disappearing," Fattah said.-06D--
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2018 February 22 (Thursday) 22:46:38
President"s Order on the Bar
Baku / 22.02.18 / Turan: The order on additional measures in connection with the development of the legal profession in Azerbaijan was signed by President Ilham Aliyev on February 22.
The document says that the decree aims to improve the judicial and legal system, to support the development of the Bar in the framework of the work done to improve and bring this area closer to modern requirements.
According to the decree, the Cabinet of Ministers must provide the Bar Association with the relevant building in Baku within two months. In addition, the lawyer structures of the Bar Association should be provided with appropriate buildings in Gandja, Lankaran, Sumgait, Sheki, and Shirvan.
The document stipulates that the amount specified for free legal aid at the expense of the state will be increased three times for people who do not have enough money to pay for a lawyer.
The Cabinet was instructed to allocate funds for repair of buildings used by the Bar Association, equip them with computers and equipment, as well as allocate funds for the purchase of transport.
There are also recommendations for the Bar Association. The Bar should regularly conduct examinations in the specialty, as well as create conditions for the admission of young lawyers to the Bar.
To stimulate the activities of lawyers in cities and districts, the Bar should prepare and implement activities. It is also recommended to provide free legal assistance to low-income families.
At the end of last year, the government amended laws regulating activities in the Bar. One of the changes was the abolition of the institution of representation. A person who is not a member of the Bar Association cannot represent citizens in court.
The Bar Association has a little more than 900 attorneys.
According to the number of lawyers per person, Azerbaijan occupies one of the last places among the countries of Europe. -0-
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