A workshop on “International and Russian practices and principles for pro bono work”, addressed to Russian regional business ombudsmen and their staff, legal associations and local government agencies, took place on 14 July 2015 in Kaliningrad. The workshop was opened by Georgii Dykhanov, Business Ombudsman of the Kaliningrad region, Korzenkov Igor, Head of the Secretariat at the office of the Business Ombudsman and Guillaume Parent, project manager, Council of Europe. The activity enjoyed the active participation of almost 50 lawyers, representatives of the Federal Business Ombudsman’s Office, the Regional Business Ombudsmen’s offices, the government agencies and legal associations. The aim of the workshop was to present the findings of a comparative analysis of international and Russian practices and principles for pro bono work, including issues of incentives, as well as professional standards; to raise awareness on pro bono services and professional standards in the Russian Federation; and to promote the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for the provision of pro bono services by lawyers and legal associations to Regional Business Ombudsmen in the Russian Federation.

At the occasion of the workshop, Business Ombudsman of the Kaliningrad Region Georgii Dykhanov and Business Ombudsman of the Arkhangelsk Region Nikolai Evmenov signed a MoU for mutual cooperation, exchange of information and development of pro bono services in both regions.