MOSCOW, September 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's president Vladimir Putin strongly criticized Friday the corruption of power bodies and inefficiency of law enforcement agencies in southern regions of Russia.
"Power bodies are often used as a tool of unfair competition, or, speaking directly, are being corrupted," he said at a meeting with governors of southern regions. "We know it is a general problem for Russia, but I would like to draw special attention to the south."
Putin said he also had "serious questions" to the work of law enforcement bodies in those regions.
"We must take urgent measures to increase the efficiency of law enforcement bodies in the country and particularly in the Southern Federal District," he said, adding that the increased activity of extremist groups was destabilizing the situation in the region.
