Appointments to state and public positions in the Russia's North Caucasus will no longer be made based on connections, presidential envoy to the region Alexander Khloponin said.
He said people should be chosen for positions based on their qualifications and that he would not sign any contracts "where the candidate does not meet the job description."
"Requests [for positions] are already being made all over the region. It's a pointless process which serves only to expose federal heads," Khloponin said.
Corruption and nepotism are common in Russia's volatile North Caucasus republics. Medvedev created the North Caucasus Federal District in January as part of efforts to improve the regional economy and remove incentives for locals to join militant groups.
Krasnoyarsk governor and former business executive Khloponin was named deputy prime minister and presidential envoy to the region.
YESSENTUKI, May 27 (RIA Novosti)
