We are deeply troubled by the shocking acts of war and the violations of international law, human rights, and national sovereignty of Ukraine. The world order will not be the same after the recent events. The sense of security we have been accustomed to for so long has vanished and we are all devastated and frustrated at this turn of events. The fundament of our society is built on the rule of law, to be protected and upheld by lawyers. That is our mission. The war against Ukraine is a flagrant violation of international law and an attack on these core values. The war has been condemned by the International Bar Association (IBA) and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE). They call on lawyers to take actions (link).

Most of us are currently wondering whether there is something we can do in this situation. As lawyers and attorneys, we have pledged to promote #ruleoflaw – from the development of legal systems and training new generations of lawyers to fighting for the enforcement of law and legal systems both by individual and joint initiatives. We hope that we can direct our frustration towards actions for a better tomorrow and for the strengthening of the rule of law. This is also the heritage of our firm and the cornerstone that Mr Snellman founded our firm on in 1909. He stood up as a lawyer and attorney against opposing forces during the Finnish civil war and suffered personal consequences.

Our firm has had offices in Kyiv, Moscow, and St. Petersburg in the past. We have former colleagues in these cities, and we know them as excellent professionals and fine people who share the #ruleoflaw values with us. They have not chosen to be part of these latest events. Our former colleagues in Kyiv may now become refugees in their own country – some of them may even take up arms to defend what people in many other countries take for granted: independence and freedom. We have had contact with some of them. The situation is dire and getting worse.

Our thoughts are with our former colleagues in Ukraine — and in Russia — and we wish them continued courage to stand up and promote the rule of law.