Dear colleagues,

A session, on the plan of advocate’s further actions against the legal regulation envisioning imposition of fine on advocate by court defined by the draft of the Judicial Code of RA, will be held at 18:30, 31 of January, in the building of the Chamber of Advocates (Yerevan, Zakiyan 7-2, 4th floor, big hall).

We would like to inform you that the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs and Protection of Human Rights of Armenia in order to hold a preliminary discussion and present a report before the second reading, has included the draft of the Judicial Code of RA in the agenda of January 31, 2018.

It is expected that the mentioned draft will be discussed in the Parliament of RA on 6-9 February, 2018.

We would like to remind you the following public events which refer to the fight against the judicial fine:

- October 31, 2017 while presenting the position of the Chamber of Advocates, The Chairman of the Chamber, finds the imposition of judicial sanction in a form of fine, unacceptable.
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- November 8, 2017 A discussion was held in the Chamber of Advocates. The participants of the discussion expressed their concern by mentioning that the fine may limit the advocate in his/ her defending activity and expressed their determination and unity in undertaking radical means if the government bodies escape the constructive discussions and solutions.
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- November 21, 2017 The Chamber of Advocates of RA sent a proposal on the judicial sanction to The Ministry of Justice of RA as well as published it in the website of the Chamber.
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- December 22, 2017 Ara ZOHRABYAN, The Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates of RA, being hosted by “Azatutyun”, criticized the draft of the Judicial Code of RA.
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- December 22, 2017 The Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates touched upon the issue of the judicial fine in a press conference. The press conference was covered by a number of media outlets such as The Public Radio of RA, Armenpress newsagency and pastinfo.am.
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- January 16, 2018 The Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates turned to the President of The National Assembly and The Minister of Justice of RA, suggesting to take out the point referring to the imposition of fines on advocates and prosecutors and leave the regulation of the matter to judicial codes.
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- January 16, 2018 The Chamber of the Advocates turned to CCBE in order to receive their opinion about the above-mentioned issue.
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- January 16, 2018 A discussion was held in the Chamber of Advocates of RA. The participants of the discussion made an announcement demanding from the National Assembly of RA and The Government of RA to exclude the possibility of imposition of judicial sanction on the advocate by the court.

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- January 17, 2018 The number of advocates who joined the announcement was 608 at the beginning and reached 1354 during next five days.
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- January 22, 2018 The advocates of Lori region, as a precautionary step, organized a one-day protest action by refusing to realize any defense or representation in the state bodies of Lori region.
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- January 24, 2018 The advocates of Shirak region, also organized, a one-day precautionary protest action by refusing to realize any defense or representation in the state bodies of Shirak region.
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- January 25, 2018 The members of the Board of the Chamber of Advocates met the representative of the National Assembly. Hrayr TOVMASYAN, the Head of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs and Protection of Human Rights of Armenia, highlighting the role of advocacy in implementation of justice, assured to present the position of the representatives of the Chamber of Advocates to the other members of the Committee and to make it a subject of discussion.
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- January 26, 2018 The advocates of Tavush and Ararat regions, organized, a one-day precautionary protest action by refusing to realize any defense or representation in the state bodies of the regions.
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- January 30, 2018 The advocates of Syunik region announced a precautionary protest action.
­ The draft was criticized by advocates as well as the members of the Board, NGOs, various professional and media groups.

Tsovinar KHACHATRYAN
The Press Secretary of the Chamber of
Advocates of the Republic of Armenia