VLADIMIR, July 25 (RAPSI) – The number of complaints about environmental violations rose in 2016, according to Russia’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova.

Human rights commissioners received 1,732 applications last year, Moskalkova said during the Ombudsman Coordination Board meeting on Tuesday.

She attributed the rise in complaints amount to the boost in confidence in the institution of ombudsman.

In 2016, most of environmental applications were lodged by residents of Moscow, the Voronezh and Moscow regions. In the first half of 2017, Moscow, the Chelyabinsk and Moscow regions became top complaint submitters, Moskalkova said.

The main environmental problems are the want of effective cooperation between authorities and regulatory agencies,an increase in the volume of waste, pollution of soil, air and water, the ombudsman’s report reads.