Ministry of Justice: It is necessary to ensure the possibility of movement of lawyers in the conditions of coronavirus

The Ministry of Justice addressed the heads of the subjects of the Russian Federation with a recommendation to ensure the freedom of movement of lawyers in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. This was reported on the website of the Moscow Bar Association.

According to the letter of the Ministry of Justice, restrictions on the freedom of movement of lawyers and notaries may lead to a violation of Article 47 of the Constitution - the right to receive qualified legal assistance.

“In this regard, we ask <…> to ensure the possibility of the movement of lawyers and notaries in the performance of their duties to provide qualified assistance upon presentation <…> of certificates of lawyers or notaries,” the letter from the Minister of Justice Konstantin Chuychenko says.

“If we used to make passes, now it will be enough to show [a lawyer’s] certificate,” lawyer Ilya Sidorov told OVD-Info.

He noted that there were no direct restrictions on the practice of advocacy: “The decrees say that restrictions do not apply to those who protect the rights and freedoms.”