MOSCOW. April 5 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered defense and security agencies to protect citizens and entrepreneurs of the new territories from crime, arbitrariness and violence.
"Purely criminal elements, including organized crime, drug dealers, financial frauds, etc., are also trying to take advantage of the situation in the [Donetsk People's Republic] DPR, the [Lugansk People's Republic] LPR, in the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. I emphasize that the Interior Ministry, the prosecutors, the Investigative Committee and other law enforcement agencies, and also special services should do the maximum to ensure the safe life of the local population," Putin said at a meeting of the Russian Security Council on Wednesday.
It is necessary to "protect people, their security, property from crime, arbitrariness and violence," he said. "Including to provide effective support to local entrepreneurs," the Russian president said.
The new regions have to build the entire system of public safety and law observance from scratch, he said. "Of course, there are many problems, including organizational ones, they have recently been discussed at the final board meetings in the Prosecutor General's Office, the Federal Security Service and the Interior Ministry," Putin said.
He ordered further increase of efforts to support the territories. "Naturally, the main burden is borne by the territorial divisions of law enforcement agencies. Their formation is taking place in a difficult operative situation, in conditions of martial law," the president said.