Putin calls for effective fight against corruption in Russia

Moscow, Nov 21 (UNI) President Vladimir Putin today called for more effective crackdown on corruption.

''The fight against corruption in the judicial system and law enforcement agencies should become more effective,'' President Putin said at a coordinating session in which heads of law enforcement services participated in the Kremlin.

He said the set of measures outlined in the 2007-2011 federal programme aimed at advancing Russia's judicial system must be fully implemented.

''I am primarily speaking about the need to ensure the independence, openness and transparency of courts at all levels and to make the courts more accessible,'' he stressed.

He asked the law enforcement agencies to pay more attention to economic crimes, noting that ''crimes of this kind'' was undermining investors' confidence in Russia, as a source of funding terrorism and fueling corruption.

''These forms of crime, which are largely new for us, inflict serious damage on the legal economy. They undermine confidence in us on the part of both domestic and foreign investors,'' the Russian leader said.

''More than that - shadow business at times becomes a source of financing terrorist and extremist groups. It is a fertile soil for the spread of corruption,'' he said.

He also said the number of serious crimes and street crimes was growing in Russia.

''In spite of the growing potential of law enforcement services, the crime situation remains complex. The share of serious and very serious crimes, as well as street crimes, is increasing,'' he said.

Russia's Prosecutor General Yury Chaika said this year Russian law enforcers stopped the illegal operations of 12,500 corrupt officials.

They registered over 9,500 crimes related to corruption - giving and receiving bribes, Mr Chaika said.

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