Nobilo represents former deputy prime minister Damir Polancec, who is the subject of anti-corruption investigations. He said in an interview with Globus magazine, published last Wednesday, that investigators were trying to narrow the investigations down to Polancec in order to force him to testify against former prime minister Ivo Sanader.

The HOK immediately reacted to Nobilo's interview by taking disciplinary action against him for violating the Bar's code of ethics and statute and the law on legal practice.

"Statements against the Croatian Bar Association, particularly the statement by the President of the Republic, represent a direct encroachment upon the independence of the Bar Association and Croatian attorneys, which is guaranteed under the Constitution. We, as the legal profession, will most resolutely resist such attempts," the HOK said in its statement.

The HOK said that it would not be discouraged by "anyone's strategies or political moves" from performing its duties, including disciplinary proceedings, "when it deems that there are grounds for such action."

Josipovic said in a newspaper interview that the HOK's decision was not a good message and that it did not lend credibility to the Croatian state. He said that the context in which the decision was taken could give the impression of it being politically motivated, but added that he did not want to interfere in the Bar Association's work.