Tatarstan Minister of Justice: More than 9,000 Tatarstan residents received free legal assistance from the State Legal Bureau
Over the four years of operation, the State Legal Bureau of the Republic of Tatarstan has provided free legal assistance to more than nine thousand people. In an interview with the newspaper «Respublika Tatarstan» Tatarstan Minister of Justice Rustem Zagidullin discussed how the Ministry of Justice makes legal assistance accessible to those most in need.
The Minister recalled that the idea of creating a specialized agency originated with the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. In Tatarstan, the initiative has received support at the highest level. «The proposal of the Russian Ministry of Justice to establish a new agency was supported by Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov», - the Minister noted. The State Legal Bureau began accepting its first requests in November 2022. As of January 1, 2026, 9,134 people had used the service.
Currently, 16 categories of citizens are eligible for free legal assistance. The minister listed the key ones: «In particular, these include low-income citizens, persons with disabilities of groups I and II, participants of the Special Military Operation and their families, Heroes of Russia, orphans, children with disabilities, and others». The full list is enshrined in the republican law on free legal assistance. The document is published on the official website of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tatarstan.
According to the minister, the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tatarstan is developing not only in-person but also remote legal assistance. «You can apply for free legal assistance from the State Legal Bureau through the mobile app «Resident Card of the Republic of Tatarstan». The app has a section called «Legal Assistance», - explained Rustem Zagidullin. The app contains a new, practice-oriented section called «Life Situations», where you can find step-by-step instructions for resolving specific legal issues».
Free legal assistance can also be obtained through the Russian State Services. This online service simplifies access to free legal assistance and helps prevent fraud. The development of digital tools is being carried out as part of the national project «Data Economy».
The full version of the minister's interview can be read on website rt-online.ru.