Disciplinary proceedings initiated against head of Latvian Council of Sworn Advocates for calling police 'paedophiles'
The Latvian Council of Sworn Advocates (LZAP) has initiated disciplinary proceedings against its chairman, Saulvedis Vārpiņš, for referring to police officers as 'pajoļi' (a derogatory term) on social media.
Disciplinary case against LZAP head
The Latvian Council of Sworn Advocates (LZAP) has initiated disciplinary proceedings against its chairman, Saulvedis Vārpiņš. The decision was made by a one-vote margin in a repeated vote. The case concerns Vārpiņš's public statements on social media, where he referred to the actions of the State Police in a criminal case against cybersecurity expert Elvis Strazdiņš as 'pajoļi' (a derogatory term implying paedophilia).
The LZAP council will assess whether Vārpiņš's conduct complies with the Code of Ethics for Advocates. Specifically, potential violations of paragraphs 8.3, 8.4, and 8.5 are being examined. These rules require advocates to maintain professional ethical standards in communication, be courteous, and avoid offensive or disrespectful language. In public spaces and social media, advocates must uphold professional requirements and ensure their statements are factual and considered.
This is not the first controversy surrounding Vārpiņš's tenure. His first year as LZAP chairman, after defeating sworn advocate Aldis Liepiņš in the election, has been turbulent. During this period, LZAP has been embroiled in several scandals, including allegations of serious and prolonged legal violations, such as failing to expel previously criminally convicted advocates from the profession. The situation has escalated to the point where the Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into LZAP's potential non-compliance with the law – an unprecedented move where the prosecutor's office reviews the activities of a professional advocacy organization.
The criminal case that prompted Vārpiņš's comments is related to a cyberattack on AS "Latvijas valsts meži" (LVM). Police investigated the actions of cyber expert Elvis Strazdiņš, finding that an individual had impersonated an LVM representative and, without authorization, contacted a suspected cybercriminal and negotiated a potential ransom for data decryption.
