A 54-year-old orphan fought for the right to housing in the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      April 6, 2026 15:29 Society NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" - Maria Orlova Lawyers from the Nizhny Novgorod NGO "Rights Protection Service" helped a 54-year-old man living in a psychiatric boarding house defend his right to an apartment he is entitled to as an orphan. This was reported by the organization's head, Ekaterina Kantinova, at a meeting of the supervisory board, as conveyed by a correspondent from NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". According to her, the organization's lawyers reached the level of the third cassation for the first time and achieved the cancellation of unlawful decisions made by Nizhny Novgorod courts. In its ruling, the First Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction in Saratov noted that the right to housing for individuals from among orphans does not depend on age or place of residence (psychiatric boarding house). "We proved that a 54-year-old person, regardless of where he lives, has the right to housing. Before this, all Nizhny Novgorod courts denied him," she said. Ekaterina Kantinova added that this has created a precedent that future judicial instances can use to protect the rights of people with mental disabilities. According to her, in 2025, lawyers represented 29 cases, of which 23 were resolved in favor of the applicants. Since 2022, lawyers have handled a total of 90 cases. She also noted that over the past year, the number of inquiries to the organization has increased — more than 6,000 in total. "The most important thing is that over a thousand inquiries came from residents of the Nizhny Novgorod region — individuals and families living with people with mental disabilities (not in specialized institutions — Ed.)." This is related to the organization's proactive position in informing about its work. "A thousand families received help from us. The questions vary: guardianship registration, disability, receiving benefits, medical assistance, managing the finances of an incapacitated person — what can be spent on, what cannot, how to submit a report to the guardian, and so on. This indicates that people need to be informed about the opportunities in the region and what the state provides them," Kantinova added. Earlier, NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" reported on how boarding houses restore connections between wards and their relatives. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has a Telegram channel. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+