Tsipinova's case fits into trend of persecuting advocates

Diana Tsipinova, an advocate from the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), who has been charged with assaulting a law enforcer, will not be able to work in her profession, if the court finds her guilty. In the past 10 years, cases of persecuting advocates for their professional activities have become more frequent, Tsipinova's colleagues have pointed out.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 7, the court found no corpus delicti in Diana Tsipinova's actions of assaulting a law enforcer, and acquitted her. The prosecutor asked to sentence her to 2.5 years in colony.

Diana Tsipinova has stated that she continues her advocacy.

The date for the consideration of the prosecutor's office complaint against Tsipinova's acquittal has not yet been set, Inna Golitsyna, an advocate, has informed.

In the last 10 years, there has been a noticeable trend in criminal prosecuting of advocates, Konstantin Rivkin, an advocate, has noted. Thanks to the help of the legal community, there have been several recent acquittals of advocates, he has added, stressing that Tsipinova won't be able to practice the advocacy, if the court finds her guilty. "The Law on Advocacy states that having a conviction for an intentional crime entails automatic termination of the advocate's status," Mr Rivkin has explained.