Justice ministry bans lawyer who defended journalist Pačobut

June 17, BPN. The Belarusian Ministry of Justice ruled yesterday that two lawyers must stop working “due to insufficient qualification.”

One of them, Alaksandr Biryłaŭ, defended Andrej Pačobut, the jailed journalist and Polish minority activist. Another one is Pavieł Mironaŭ.

Three other attorneys could also lose their licenses, according to the ruling.

The move is part of a crackdown on the legal profession following the disputed 2020 presidential election that sparked mass protests against authoritarian leader Alaksandr Łukašenka.

Many lawyers have faced criminal charges or been forced to leave the country.

Łukašenka has said the bar should act by the law, not by “freedom of speech and other freedoms.”