According to the new version of the regional law entered into force in Tomsk region as of 1 January 2015, the list of persons having the right to receive publicly-funded free legal assistance has been extended with such groups as non-working pensioners and non-working persons with disabilities of the 3rd category.

The amendments were initiated by the Commissioner for Human Rights in Tomsk Region Elena Kartashova. In her report for 2013 she drew attention of local authorities to the problems of accessibility of free legal assistance to some groups of citizens, guaranteed by the Russian Constitution.

As the result, all pensioners regardless of their pensions’ rates have the right to receive written and non-written legal consultations; and also a lawyer representing interests of a pensioner will be provided to those, whose income is lower than two subsistence minima (while before — lower than one).

Thus, starting from this year, the amount of those entitled to receive free legal assistance has significantly increased in the region.