Government moves to disbar five lawyers

April 23, BPN. Justice officials in Belarus moved to strip five lawyers of their licenses, the justice ministry said on April 22.

A qualification commission ruled that Alaksiej Barodka, Alaksandr Hurynovič and Ihar Ściapanaŭ can lose their licenses to practice law, the ministry said, citing misconduct incompatible with the legal profession. Inesa Alenskaja and Dzianis Šarstnioŭ can be disbarred for lack of qualification.

A well-known defender of political prisoners, Alenskaja represented activist Siarhiej Cichanoŭski, Belarusian Popular Front (BPF) chair Ryhor Kastusioŭ, human rights defender Anastasija Łojka, and journalist Raman Pratasievič. In March, she was tried for “dissemination of extremist content” under the Administrative Offences Code.

Conversely, Barodka and Hurynovič were often quoted by the state media and shown on Belarusian television.