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1 March 2022PatentsMuireann Bolger

Ukraine attorneys: ‘Suspend Russian members’

The National Association of Patent Attorneys of Ukraine (NAPA) has urged global IP associations to suspend the membership of Russian attorneys and remove the country’s representatives from managerial positions.

In a letter to international IP associations, it stated that such measures would adhere to the principles outlined by the United Nations

On February 24, the Russian Federation declared war on Ukraine and launched a military assault on its cities resulting in hundreds of civilian casualties.

NAPA said that while its members understood that IP associations may want to stay out of politics, the extreme circumstances demanded a collective support for democracy, respect to the sovereignty of states, respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the suppression of acts of aggression or other breaches of the peace.

The association called on IP organisations worldwide to cancel or refrain from planning any activities in Russia and to ban any Russian members from any online or offline events, and to rescind any registrations from the country’s members for future events.

“All measures we are asking for above are only aimed at maintaining these human principles in the war of Russia against Ukraine, which is literally the war of Russia against the whole world,” said the association.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has imposed a martial state and condemned Russia’s  bombardment of the country’s urban centres as war crimes.

According to NAPA, Russia’s violations deserve not “only political, military and legal, but also professional and civil action” in condemnation of its aggression.

“Ukrainian people are heroically defending our land against Russian invaders. Ukraine has become the border of democracy and human values, united the world in the strive for peace and unity. Unfortunately the Russian Federation continues to attack our citizens, including our women and children,” said the letter.

“We call on the world community to show a ‘principled’ position towards the representatives of the aggressor to prove that those not respecting democratic values have no place in the civilised world.”

The International Trademark Association (INTA) has declared its support for the people of Ukraine.

When approached for comment, INTA CEO, Etienne Sanz de Acedo, said: “We are not penalising our members in Russia for the actions of their government.”

The  European Competitive Telecommunications Association (ECTA) has issued the below statement:

“As a European based and rooted association, ECTA is deeply concerned that war is now again on the European continent. Working with IP rights as tools for innovative and peaceful development of societies, ECTA believes strongly in dialogue and democracy and sees mutual commerce and peaceful cooperation as cornerstones to the benefit of all people.

It added that ECTA offered its solidarity to the population in Ukraine and other war zones and support to its members in affected countries, while hoping for a de-escalation of the present conflict and an earnest search for a peaceful solution via dialogue and diplomacy.

A cohort of Russian lawyers have issued an open letter against the military operation on the territory of Ukraine, which has been posted on NAPA’s Facebook page.

The letter stated: “As part of our professional activities, we apply the law every day and protect the interests of citizens and legal entities so that justice prevails. But we protect these rights, guided by written rules and procedures, we protect them in a civilised manner, based on the law.”

The signatories urged a swift resolution to the conflict.

“We appeal to the leadership of our country with an appeal to immediately stop Russia's military operation on the territory of Ukraine and find ways to resolve this situation peacefully,” it said.

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