Since 1994 Nizhny Novgorod Society for Human Rights has been providing citizens with consultations on their rights violations. Since 1996 NNSHR has been working on the project "Legal Center".

Main objectives of Legal Center:

• consulting citizens on different issues;
• assisting in making applications, lodging complaints and suits, preparing applications according to international defense procedures;
• participating in court hearings as individuals’ defenders or prosecutors;
• compiling and preparing information for mass media.

Legal Center consults on different human rights issues. However, the priority issues include:

• defending from illegal methods of detention, investigation and inquiries (torture applying);
• observing legal court procedures;
• providing freedom of moving;
• observing international minimal standard rules of taking into custody;
• legal protection of servicemen and conscripts;
• guarantee of freedom of speech, the press, meetings, participation in state administration and elections;
• protection from religious, racial, sex discrimination;
• helping victims of political repressions.

Also, the Center assists in solving more serious problems of human rights violations such as out-of-date system of legal structures, illegal decisions and actions of officials, political interests, etc.