are enshrined in several human rights instruments, such as Article 14(3)(b), (d) and (e) of the ICCPR and OSCE commitments.938 384. Accused persons are entitled to prompt access to counsel of their own choosing at all stages of criminal proceedings,939 including “during interrogations and prior to appearance in court”.940 Those who are unable to afford an attorney are entitled to be provided one by the state without payment, when the interests of justice so require.941 It is for example crucial in death penalty cases.942 Restrictions on access to counsel are to be specified in law, limited to extraordinary circumstances, temporary and assessed on a case-by-case basis.943 This access should not be delayed for more than a matter of days so as to not create a situation where the accused is effectively held in incommunicado detention.944 Restrictions on a defendant’s ability to choose his or her counsel are also to be justified on reasonable and objective grounds.945 An accused is however not entitled to an unrestricted choice of assigned counsel when the state is paying the costs.946 With regards to military tribunals, it is recommended that a defendant be able to choose his or her counsel if they do not wish to be assisted by a military lawyer.947 In cases where a military lawyer is provided to a defendant, states should fully guarantee the possibility for an accused to opt for a civilian attorney.948 938 Relevant OSCE commitments include OSCE Vienna Document, op. cit., note 90, para. 13.9; OSCE Copenhagen Document, op. cit., note 80, para. 5.17; OSCE Moscow Document, op. cit., note 90, para. 23.1; OSCE “Brussels Declaration on Criminal Justice Systems”, op. cit., note 550. See, also, ACHR, Art. 8; UDHR, Art. 11. 939 ICCPR, Art. 14(3)(b); UN HRC, General Comment No. 32, op. cit., note 648, paras. 32, 34, 38; “Body of Principles”, op. cit., note 89, Principle 18; “Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers”, Havana, 7 September 1990, Principles 1, 8, <http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/RoleOfLawyers.aspx>; OSCE Vienna Document, op. cit., note 90, para. 13.9; OSCE Copenhagen Document, op. cit., note 80, para. 5.17; UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Report to the General Assembly, A/68/285, op. cit., note 647, para. 78; UN Special Rapporteur on torture, Interim report to the General Assembly, A/68/295, op. cit., note 304, para. 74. 940 UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Report to the General Assembly, A/68/285, ibid., para. 78. See, also, UN HRC, General Comment No. 35, op. cit., note 92, para. 35: “States parties should permit and facilitate access to counsel for detainees in criminal cases, from the outset of their detention.” 941 ICCPR, Art. 14(3)(d); UN HRC, General Comment No. 32, op. cit., note 648, para. 38; “Body of Principles”, op. cit., note 89, Principle 17. See, also, “Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems”, New York, 20 December 2012, <http://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prisonreform/UN_principles_and_guidlines_on_access_to_legal_aid.pdf>. 942 UN HRC, General Comment No. 32, ibid.; UN HRC, Frank Robinson v. Jamaica, Communication No. 223/1987, 30 March 1989, para. 10.3, <http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CCPR%2fC%2f35%2fD%2f223%2f1987&L ang=en>. 943 “Body of Principles”, op. cit., note 89, Principle 18; Human Rights in Counter-Terrorism Investigations, op. cit., note 120, p. 90; UN HRC General Comment No. 29, op. cit., note 111, para. 4; UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism, Report to the General Assembly, A/63/223, op. cit., note 55, para. 40. 944 “Body of Principles”, ibid., Principle 15; UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Report to the General Assembly, A/63/223, ibid. 945 UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Report to the General Assembly, A/63/223, ibid. 946 UN HRC, Kenneth Teesdale v. Trinidad and Tobago, Communication No. 677/1996, 1 April 2002, para. 9.6, <http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=CCPR%2fC%2f74%2fD%2f677%2f1996&L ang=en>; UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counter-terrorism, Report to the General Assembly, A/63/223, ibid., para. 41. 947 Decaux Principles, op. cit., note 647, para. 53; UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Report to the General Assembly, A/68/285, op. cit., note 647, para. 75. 948 UN Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Report to the General Assembly, A/68/285, ibid., para. 77. 168