MOSCOW, April 10 (RAPSI) – Russia slumped to third place in the rating of complaints filed with the European Court of Human Rights, the press service of the Russian Justice Minister said on Wednesday.

The highest number of complaints was lodged against Ukraine (15,500) and Italy (14,700).

The ministry explained the decline by a joint project between the Russian Justice Ministry, the Russian Bar Association and the ECHR Secretariat, under which Russian attorneys work in the secretariat on a temporary basis to pre-hear complaints filed against Russia. Continued work under this program is expected to have a positive effect on Russia’s ranking.