The EU Court criticized the Czech Republic for allowing the interrogation of suspects without the presence of a defense attorney

The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the Czech Republic violates EU law by allowing interrogations without a lawyer present if the lawyer does not arrive within 48 hours of detention. This decision followed a complaint from the European Commission, which also criticized Hungary for similar practices. The court emphasized that suspects have the right to legal representation during interrogations, which includes the lawyer's physical presence. Although no fines were imposed on the Czech Republic, failure to comply with the ruling could lead to financial penalties. The European Commission had raised concerns about the Czech legal framework as early as 2021.