Legal community response

The global legal community has responded. On 24 February 2022, the International Bar Association condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. IBA president Sternford Moyo said: ‘This act by President Putin is a watershed moment that indisputably violates international law.’

On 25 February, the Council of Bars and Law Societies in Europe (CCBE), in a statement read by president James MacGuill, denounced the illegal invasion, and called on the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to investigate the crimes committed by Vladimir Putin and his accomplices. Information on the CCBE’s response is gathered here. The CCBE calls for donations to support Ukrainian colleagues and their families who are suffering as a result of the war, through a charitable initiative of the Ukrainian National Bar Association (enthusiastically supported by the Paris Bar and others).

The Law Society of Ireland and (in a joint statement with UK colleagues) the Bar of Ireland also condemned Russia’s actions and endorsed the CCBE condemnation. Information on the Law Society’s response is gathered here.

In Ireland, the Public Interest Law Alliance and Immigration, Asylum & Citizenship Bar Association are providing (and calling for) pro bono legal support.

See information from the Ukrainian Bar Association here.

The Ukraine Justice Alliance brings lawyers in many jurisdictions together on projects similar to ours.

The IBA has developed the eyeWitness app for documenting evidence of atrocities. Global Legal Action Network is working with online investigators at Bellingcat to compile a database of evidence that meets judicial standards, and launched an appeal on Crowdjustice.