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.

President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin submitted to the State Duma the draft laws which are to considerably change interaction between regional authorities and human rights commissioners.

On 24 December, the best charity providers were awarded at the end of the traditional Charity Days project in Sverdlovsk region. A non-commercial public organisation Uralsky Dom (The Ural House), highly appraised by Commissioner for Human Rights in Sverdlovsk Region Tatiana Merzlyakova, received a special category award for their assistance to the displaced persons and refugees.

On 25 December, a press conference devoted to the matters and prospects of human rights in Sverdlovsk Region took place at the ITAR-TASS Regional Information Centre (Ekaterinburg). The region’s representatives spoke about the year-end results, as well as the most significant and problematic issues in human rights prospects of 2015.

The Commissioner for Human Rights in Kostroma Region reported on the results following the inspection of the information that in Penal Colony No. 3 convicts’ rights had been violated. The colony’s inspector in charge of the correspondence was held liable and reprimanded.

On 10 December, as a part of the decade of law organised by the Commissioner for Human Rights in Chelyabinsk Region, the second film festival ‘The Hope. Chelyabinsk 2014’ was held. There were winners awarded in six categories. In total, 15 films on human rights in penitentiaries had been submitted for competition.

In total, more than 700 forms were filled in. The survey showed that 98% of the pupils, even though unaware of the contents, they still know the Convention exists.

On 20 November 2014, the Human Rights Commissioner’s Office in Sakha hosted the events dedicated to the Day of Legal Assistance to Children.

Within the two years since the human rights body has been created, 3,337 appealed to the Commissioner in Tula for help.

Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Crimea Lyudmila Lubina held a meeting with the representatives of the local national and cultural communities concerning creation of a council for interethnic issues.