MOSCOW, January 30th, 2004 (RIA Novosti correspondent) - Only consistent and qualified rather than separate efforts can help combat corruption, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an extended board of the Prosecutor General's Office.
According to the president, complaints against the lack of legislation backing the fight against corruption are a poor excuse for ineffective work. "Legislation in this area, especially the criminal legislation, is well developed and uncompromising enough," said the head of state.
He dubbed it inadmissible when many months of investigation and custody are made futile by a court ruling. ""But this does not mean that one should prove his/her professional commitment by leaving people to rot in a gaol," Putin said.
The president remarked that the Prosecutor's Office's supervision over investigation and inquest was an essential element of exterior control over law-enforcers' activity."
