RUSSIAN ORGANISATION AGORA, PROVIDES FREE LEGAL SUPPORT TO CORONAVIRUS’ PANDEMIC RELATED ISSUES
Agora International Human Rights Group, an association of lawyers working on human rights cases in Russia, has opened a helpline to provide consultations on legal matters related to the pandemic. When the organization created the Legal Aid Hotline, they did not imagine how many aspects of life could be affected by the pandemic and the importance of offering free legal consultations regarding those issues.
Since its implementation on March 19th, the helpline supported more than 4,500 individuals, who contacted the organization with questions about labour rights, movement within the country, migration problems, domestic violence, tourism, and freedom of speech. The organization also offers a hotline for psychological support, having received 252 questions in the same period.
They provide basic legal advice and have ample research on relevant topics (available for download on their website) in the aim of instructing citizens. They help them find answers to questions that have become relevant due to the coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, the organization also urges the Russian authorities to change policies. For instance, Agora’s lawyers prepared appeals addressed to the Russian prime minister, in order to allow foreigners with close Russian relatives to be able to return to Russia (which was forbidden according to strict lockdown measures). After this pressure, the government amended its order regarding Russians with a residence permit abroad.
The Headquarters also launched an online webinar series that hosted 9 free webinars for both lawyers and ordinary citizens. The organization also created a separate channel through the Telegram App called “Learning with Agora,” to better inform the Russian population on COVID-19 related issues.
The helpline can be contacted at:
WhatsApp: + 7-962-570-13-05
Telegram: @ help_covid19
Learn more about the initiative at:
https://www.agora.legal/cases/Aktivisty/Shtab-pravovoi-pomoshi-Koronavirus/415