Advocates Rights Protection Commission  discussed  criminal  prosecution and arrest  of Alexander Kochubaev 

ArmInfo.  The Advocates Rights Protection Commission at the RA Chamber of Advocates has discussed the criminal prosecution and arrest of lawyer Alexander Kochubaev, as noted in a statement  issued by the Committee.

"Firstly, the Commission is deeply concerned by information from open  sources regarding the disproportionate force used during the forcible  delivery of lawyer Alexander Kochubaev to the body conducting the  proceedings. The Committee recalls that preserving a lawyer's  reputation is an essential condition for ensuring adequate conditions  for the protection of individual rights. According to the established  position of the European Court, deprivation of liberty for insult or  criticism is inadmissible; such influence is considered a  disproportionate and unnecessary measure; states are obliged to  choose only civil or non-criminal forms of liability in such cases,"  the statement emphasizes.

  Summarizing the above positions, the Commission considers that the  procedural coercive measures applied to Kochubaev are  disproportionate and unfounded. The search of the lawyer's office,  car, and apartment, based on the specific facts presented to him,  constitutes a disproportionate and even offensive interference within  the meaning of Article 8 of the ECHR. The current state policy does  not align with the interests of a democratic society. The Commission  strongly condemns any harassment of a lawyer in connection with a  statement they have made, particularly the use of such exceptional  measures as pretrial detention. It urges parties to the proceedings  and courts considering deprivation of liberty to take into account  the particularities arising from a lawyer's status when choosing or  applying coercive measures.

 "The Commission also requests that the competent authorities  investigate the information regarding the use of disproportionate  force during the forcible delivery of Alexander Kochubaev to the body  conducting the proceedings and hold the officials responsible for the  abuse of office accountable. The Committee notes that the telephone  and laptop belonging to lawyer Alexander Kochubaev may reasonably  contain information constituting attorney-client privilege regarding  his clients and, therefore, are subject to the protection of  attorney-client privilege in accordance with Article 21 of the Law of  the Republic of Armenia 'On the Bar.' The Commission requests that  the body conducting the criminal proceedings refrain from any actions  that violate attorney-client privilege, including any procedural  actions aimed at disclosing the contents of Alexander Kochubaev's  telephone and laptop, as well as their return," the statement reads.