On 7 April, Commissioner for Human Rights in Samara Region Olga Galtsova published a report dedicated to the observance of human rights and freedoms in 2016.

According to the document, the Commissioner’s office received 4,248 applications from citizens in 2016. The number of applications increased by 20% as compared to 2015.
The most common subjects of complaints are housing rights breaches (22%), property rights breaches (15%) and human rights violations in places of forced detention (11%).

The greatest growth was recorded in regard to appeals concerning violations of rights to education, a favorable environment and in the system of law enforcement bodies. The mentioned appeals were twice more in 2016 than in 2015. The number of complaints related to the violation of social security rights, the right to health and medical care has also increased.

Olga Galtsova within the limits of her competence carries out close cooperation with state authorities and the local government. In total, in 2016 the Commissioner sent more than 3,000 appeals in the interests of the applicants.

In particular, an active cooperation has developed with the Public Chamber of Samara Region on the issue of assisting citizens in the realization of electoral rights. In August 2016, the Public Chamber of the region with the participation of the Commissioner held a round table devoted to «The Role of Civil Society Institutions in organizing public monitoring of the election campaign», where the initiatives to increase citizens' confidence to the elections were outlined.

Adapted from the Press Service of the Commissioner for Human Rights in Samara Region