Annotation

This article examines the legal and professional and ethical aspects of a lawyer's refusal to accept a defense assignment and refusal to defend himself in a criminal case. The analysis is based on the provisions of current legislation, standards of professional ethics of a lawyer, as well as the practice of reviewing disciplinary cases by collegial executive bodies of the chambers of advocates of the subjects of the Russian Federation (councils). The author emphasizes that the admissibility of a lawyer's refusal to defend and refusal to accept a defense assignment should be assessed taking into account the principles of continuity of defense, consideration of the rights and legitimate interests of the client and the conscientious exercise of professional duties by the lawyer.