Russia Cracks Down on 98 Criminal Gangs for Economic Offenses – Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was spending "huge resources" on improving its defenses and rearming the military and this money must be protected from thieves at all costs.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Almost a hundred criminal gangs were dismantled and 2,200 people arrested in Russia in 2015 for economic crimes, President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

"Last year, 98 gangs were dismantled as part of the campaign against organized crime. According to data submitted by the security services, 2,200 people were charged with and convicted of economic crimes," Putin said.

Speaking at a meeting of the Federal Security Service (FSB), the president called for the country’s economic security to be boosted and the fight against corruption, embezzlement and theft of state funds, primarily in the military, to be redoubled.

He said Russia was spending "huge resources" on improving its defenses and rearming the military. This money must be protected from thieves at all costs, Putin underscored.

Russia's 2016 military budget was expected to stand at 3.14 trillion rubles (over $41 billion at the current exchange rate) or 4 percent of its gross domestic product, although media reports suggest the budget could be trimmed due to economic challenges.