Medvedchuk's lawyers

Medvedchuk’s entourage retains influence and positions in the Ukrainian legal profession

The entourage of the ex-people's deputy from the banned Opposition for Life and the godfather of the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Viktor Medvedchuk, continues to maintain influence and positions in the Ukrainian legal profession

Journalists recalled that in 2012, in accordance with the law on the legal profession and advocacy, the National Bar Association of Ukraine was created - a professional organization that automatically included all lawyers in the country. This structure combines self-government bodies that influence who is issued a lawyer’s certificate and who is deprived of it.

From the beginning of the creation of the association, it was headed by Lydia Izovitova, who is called “Medvedchuk’s man” in the media and in the legal community, journalists report. Even though her tenure ended back in 2022, she is still the chairman of the association.

The founder of the Igla initiative, Irina Fedorov, said that elections in the association are not being held, citing the fact that the country is in martial law.

“She served her 10 years – that’s a fact. They don’t hold elections, they say it’s martial law. But listen, we understand that these are just fairy tales, look at the Supreme Court, there is a Grand Chamber. And under the conditions of martial law, people carried out and elected a new composition of the Grand Chamber,” she said.

Since the early 2000s, Izovitova and Medvedchuk “crossed paths” in the organization Union of Lawyers of Ukraine. In particular, Medvedchuk was its founder, and Izovitova was its vice president. At the same time, Izovitova then held a position in the High Council of Justice, which was responsible for the formation of the judiciary.

Lawyers claim that for more than ten years of Izovitova’s “rule,” the National Association and the Council of Lawyers have not expressed positions regarding historical state events.

Thus, in 2014, the National Bar Association of Ukraine did not condemn the dictatorial laws of January 16 and did not express a position regarding the actions of the Yanukovych regime and the beating of people on the Maidan during the Revolution of Dignity. Then a group of lawyers signed an act of no confidence in the leadership of the National Bar Association of Ukraine.

In 2016, neither Izovitova herself nor the National Bar Association, which she heads, responded in any way to the register of lawyers created in the so-called DPR, the material says.

Already in 2023, on the website of the National Association, Izovitova criticized a bill registered in the Verkhovna Rada, proposing to introduce criminal liability for lawyers who work in the occupied territories, recognizing the legitimacy of the occupiers’ power.

“Since 2014, the leadership of the National Association has not said a single word about Russia’s actions. Prosecution has not been initiated against any traitor or collaborator,” said lawyer and serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ilya Kostin.

“An important position in the structures of the Ukrainian legal profession is occupied by the former parliamentary assistant to Viktor Medvedchuk, Zoya Temnokhudova,” the journalists note.

Temnokhudova was not only an assistant, but also shared the ideological values ​​of the politician Medvedchuk. In particular, in 2020, in an interview with local media, she noted that she was impressed by the ideas of a peaceful Ukraine that Medvedchuk defends.

Temnokhudova is a lawyer from Transcarpathia, as well as a deputy of the Transcarpathian Regional Council from PZZHM (formerly known as OPZZH).

In 2022, the Bar Council of Transcarpathia elected Temnokhudova as its representative to the Higher Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of the Bar of Ukraine. This structure controls the passing of qualifying examinations by lawyers and disciplinary proceedings.

Temnokhudova refused to comment to Bihus.Info, saying that she does not communicate with journalists “about this matter.” To the question: does Temnokhudov consider Viktor Medvedchuk a traitor to the state, the woman replied: “Good evening.”

Another lawyer is Igor Kirilenko. In the 90s, he worked at the international law firm B.I.M., co-founded by Medvedchuk. He was also a consultant to the Union of Lawyers of Ukraine, which Medvedchuk then headed.

Kirilenko also represented Medvedchuk in the courts. In particular, in the case of the ban on the publishing of Vakhtang Kipiani’s book, the Vasily Stus case, where Medvedchuk did not like the mention of him.

In addition to Viktor Medvedchuk himself, Kirilenko represented in court the interests of his brother, Sergei, to whom some of the companies in the family orbit of the state editor were registered.

In 2020, Kirilenko became a deputy of the Kyiv City Council from the OPZZh party. Now he is a member of the regulatory commission of the Kyiv City Council.