Disciplinary Case Against Advocate Viktor Drozdov: Illegal Contributions and Punitive Ethics

The article provides a critical analysis of the disciplinary proceedings against advocate Viktor Drozdov. The author examines in detail the doctrine of «advocate’s omerta», established by the Federal Chamber of Advocates Ethics and Standards Commission Clarification № 03/19, proving its conflict with the Russian Constitution, international standards, and federal law. The study identifies numerous procedural violations during the disciplinary process, including the expansion of charges and the breach of the principle of impartiality. The author concludes that the Drozdov case is an act of «disciplinary tyranny» and serves as evidence of a profound crisis in the independence of the legal profession in Russia.