{"id":122640,"date":"2025-01-21T14:43:49","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T11:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/122640\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T12:05:06","slug":"oiad-number-of-lawyers-in-belarus-plunges-by-27-percent-since-2021","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/news\/122640\/","title":{"rendered":"OIAD: number of lawyers in Belarus plunges by 27 percent since 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\n Lawyer Maksim Znak, behind bars since September 2020\n <\/div>\n \n
\n (tut.by)<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


January 21, Pozirk. <\/em><\/strong>The number of practising lawyers in Belarus plunged by 27.3 percent to some 1,600 over the past four years, according to the data by the International Observatory of Lawyers in Danger (OIAD).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2020, at least eleven Belarusian lawyers have been charged in criminal cases, six are held behind bars and four reportedly faced torture in detention, the report said, noting that at least 139 have been disbarred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week, rallies in support of Belarusian lawyers are planned across France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States and other countries to mark the International Day of the Endangered Lawyer observed on January 24, the Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers (BAHRL) said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The events will focus on informing the public about the lack of an independent judiciary, reprisals targeting Belarusian lawyers and authorities’ efforts to ban them from professional activities, especially in politically-motivated cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authorities in Minsk keep up pressure on Belarusian lawyers which only highlights the critical importance of continued international support and solidarity, the BAHRL noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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