Lawyers present the Diplomatic Legal Hub — a legal support platform for diplomats, foreign citizens and businesses

The Diplomatic Legal Hub has been presented in Kyiv — a permanent advisory and legal center for foreign diplomatic missions, businesses and citizens, created on the initiative of the Barristers law association in cooperation with Ukrainian lawyers. The platform is intended to provide continuous legal support for foreigners in Ukraine and reduce the administrative burden on embassies and companies, in particular in matters related to migration, criminal, commercial and tax law, and to martial law.

Oleksii Shevchuk, a partner at the Barristers law association and spokesperson for the National Bar Association of Ukraine (NBAU), stressed that the hub will function as a practical mechanism for prompt assistance.

“Today we are presenting a platform where any embassy representative, foreign business or foreign citizen can report their problem online 24/7 and receive appropriate support. Our team will use, among other things, universal jurisdiction tools to protect against persecution,” he said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Wednesday.

According to Shevchuk, foreign citizens in wartime often remain outside full state protection, so the team's task is to provide them with prompt and high-quality legal support.

Elvira Lazarenko, a partner at the Barristers law association, in turn outlined the hub's service model.

“We support the entire cycle — from crossing the border and properly processing documents to resolving disputes with the migration service, customs and in court. For at least the next two years, assistance for citizens of foreign states will be provided pro bono,” she noted.

Attorney Yaroslav Kuts, deputy chair of the NBAU information policy committee and partner at the a2kat law association, stressed Ukraine's openness to foreigners and investment and explained that the hub was created not only to help during martial law, but also with an eye to postwar recovery, when growth in business activity and migration is expected. “

“Despite the war, we remain a country open with all our heart and soul to foreigners and foreign investment. The hub was created not only for the present — it works with an eye to postwar recovery, when the activity of foreign citizens and businesses will grow,” he added.

For his part, Oleksandr Oliinyk, managing partner of the VIDSICH law association and chair of the criminal law and procedure committee of the Council of Advocates of Kharkiv Oblast, drew attention to the risks for companies with a foreign element.

“During the full-scale war, according to our data, more than 500 criminal proceedings have been opened against enterprises and individuals with a foreign component; in some cases the indictment materials have already been sent to court. Ukraine has an institution of criminal liability of legal entities — sanctions can apply not only to officials, but also to companies as a whole,” Oliinyk noted.

It was stressed during the event that the platform will also help with practical matters — from opening bank accounts to contract support — and is intended to close the “service gap,” since foreigners are currently mostly forced to seek comprehensive assistance in the private sector.

The organizers announced the creation of a hub secretariat and the availability of an online form for requests. Olha Taniushkina was named as the program's ideological leader; she initiated the approach under which lawyers devote part of their time to free legal defense of foreigners who help Ukraine.

The Diplomatic Legal Hub was initiated by the Barristers law association in cooperation with Ukrainian lawyers and with the support of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency. Key areas include migration law, criminal and commercial proceedings, tax disputes, and support for investments and financial transactions. The platform is positioned as a legal support tool for diplomatic missions, businesses and citizens, with the possibility of making requests 24/7.