The Cabinet of Ministers adopted a decree, thereby launching
the process of an initiative to set up across the country 428 legal aid bureau
offices of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine which was presented by the
Minister of Justice Pavlo Petrenko at the Cabinet’s meeting on February 11.
The decree provides for the elimination of 586 territorial
bodies of the Ministry of Justice and in the regional centers
and establish in district and regional centers 428 legal
aid bureaus to provide Ukrainian citizens with legal protection and to ensure
access to e-services opened by the Ministry of Justice.
"Last year we launched a system of free legal aid in
administrative civil and criminal cases, which enumerated 100 centers. Due to the budget funding and economy within the
Ministry of Justice, we are expanding the network of free legal aid centers and run 428 legal assistance bureau offices
throughout Ukraine", explained Pavlo Petrenko.
According to him, the newly
established offices will share activities of the
launched centres of free legal assistance,
thus covering the entire Ukraine’s
territory including district centers and cities of
regional significance.
"In these centers
citizens on legitimate grounds,
will be able to exercise their right to counsel. This
applies to the low-income, the disabled, pensioners, displaced
persons, ATO participants and the families of the
victims. In these centres our citizens will be provided consultative
support and on-line services of the Ministry of justice. Also, these
legal centers will provide primary assistance,
i.e. advice to all the people who don't need a lawyer but require
simple legal support", said the Minister
of Justice.