MOSCOW, December 6 - RAPSI. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued a unanimous decision Thursday ruling that France did not violate the rights of its citizen to protection of private and family life in a case involving the obligations of lawyers to report on their suspicions that clients may have engaged in illegal activities.

The claim was brought by French attorney Patrick Michaud. In July 2007, the French National Bar Council adopted a regulation aimed at encouraging lawyers to uphold various requirements of professional ethics. The regulation requires lawyers to maintain “constant vigilance,” and stipulates actions to be taken in suspicious circumstances. Specifically, lawyers are required to inform federal authorities of money suspected of having arisen from such criminal offenses as money laundering.

Michaud challenged the regulation before the Counseil d’Etat, arguing that it violated three articles of the European Convention on Human Rights: Article 7, which prohibits punishment without law, based on the perceived vagueness of “suspicion” within the context of the regulation; and Article 8, which protects the rights to private and family life).

When the Counseil d’Etat dismissed his claim, he brought the present case before the ECHR, tacking on charges of a breach of Article 6, which provides for the right to a fair hearing.

The court dismissed Michaud’s Article 8 claim that such a responsibility to inform is repugnant to the protection of the attorney-client privilege and respect for professional confidentiality. So holding, the court dismissed his claims under Articles 6 and 7.