MOSCOW, March 20 - RAPSI. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has approved the nomination of Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov as chair of the government commission on free legal aid, reads a post on the government's website.

The commission was established by a government resolution on December 12, 2012 and will mostly draw up proposals for the president and the government on the state policy of providing free legal services to the public. It will also monitor compliance with civil rights in this regard.

The commission will meet at least once every six months.

The law on free legal aid came into force on January 15, 2013 and obliges federal ministries and agencies and regional authorities to give free spoken and written legal advice on issues within their competence.