A new perfect law on advocacy must be adopted in order to solve the problems existing in Azerbaijan in the sphere of the legal profession, experts say. The roundtable “Advocacy institute in Azerbaijan: realities and prospects” held in Baku on Nov. 24 focused on the current situation and problems in this regard.

There are numerous problems in this regard such as groundless exclusion of lawyers to protect, removal from protection, violation of the principle of adversarial proceedings in the trial, the lack of the necessary conditions for normal functioning of the lawyers, said lawyer Gurban Mammadov. The procedures of accepting to advocacy must be changed.

Another lawyer Annagi Hajibeyli considers it necessary to establish a board, an alternative to the Bar Association. According to him, if such organization will be many, it can contribute to independent activities of the advocacy institutions and productive organization of protection. Such organizations function in neighboring Turkey and Russia, he said. To ensure normal functioning of lawyers, Hajibeyli proposed eliminating a tax of 40 percent imposed on lawyers.

Existing legal consulting in Azerbaijan is unable to provide quality legal assistance to citizens, said a member of the Bar Association Gazi Mammadov.

Attending the roundtable, the lawyers and human rights activists, given the seriousness of the situation in this regard, adopted a declaration to take urgent measures to strengthen the Presidium of the Bar Association. Only in this case, the institution of the legal profession may become an integral part of legal system and act in accordance with the interests of citizens, the statement said.

An appeal was addressed to the President.