KHUJAND, October 8, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- A coordination meeting entitled “Access to Free Legal Advice” took place in Khujand on October 7.

Organized by Tajikistan’s Republican Bureau on Human Rights and Rule of Law (BHR) under support of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan, the meeting brought together representatives from the Sughd barristers’ association, human rights NGOs and media to discuss issues related to the problems of access to free legal advice in Tajikistan.

Speaking at the meeting, the chairperson of the Sughd barristers’ association, Ms. Mohira Usmonova, noted that the right to get free legal advice at all stages of investigation and trial was provided by Article 92 of the country’s Constitution.  “However, the issue of providing free legal advice has not been properly regulated and there is no an efficient state-run system of free legal advice to vulnerable persons in the country,” she said, noting that a special law is needed that would regulate at least general principles of providing free legal advice.

According to her, lawyers in Khujand have not received costs for provided legal advices that must be paid by the government since May.