Chamber of Advocates: Advocate should not be identified with principal

The Chamber of Advocates of Armenia expressed concern over the incident that occurred during the announcement of the verdict in the Harsnakar case.

“The curses and insults voiced by the relatives of the defendants were directed at the representative of the aggrieved party – advocate Tigran Yegorian. Unfortunately like in other cases, very often advocates are identified with principals,” the Chamber’s chairman Ara Zohrabian said in a statement.

Under Article 21 part 5 of the Law on Advocacy, the advocate performing their professional duties shall not be identified with the principal.

The attempts to turn an advocate into a target of hatred are fraught with dangerous consequences. If society does not respect the professional immunity of a lawyer, it will hinder the administration of justice. The Chamber of Advocates condemns such actions. We urge courts to take measures prescribed by the law in such cases because this negative phenomenon when the rights of advocates are not protected in a court and the conditions for performance of their professional duties are not created may become permanent,” the statement notes.