MOSCOW. Jan 12 (Interfax-AVN) - President Vladimir Putin has called for the development of an anti-corruption policy that will be aimed against not only its consequences, but also its causes.
"We absolutely don't need empty talk, all this fuss, and erratic spurts in this sphere. They must be left in the past. What we need is accurate and realistic measures for fighting manifestations of corruption and, what is the most important, its prevention," Putin said while opening the first session of the presidential anti-corruption council in the Kremlin on Monday.
"Corruption is rooted in the very shortcomings of the economic and administrative system, is being fueled by imperfect legislation and spreads due to the lack of efficient outside control over the activity of officials and government bodies," the president said.
"Russia's authorities have repeatedly and resolutely declared the need to fight corruption," Putin said. "Programs were drafted, and quite tough individual steps were taken, but, unfortunately, they did not produce the desired effect," he said.
The scope of corruption "will be decreasing once law, democratic institutions, and a civilized market become stronger and once government bodies start fighting not only the consequences of corruption, but also its causes," he said.
"Corruption is closely tied to various forms of abuse of power at all levels," Putin said.
"This includes the granting of preferences to all kinds of so- called favorites among businessmen, the provision of unlawful privileges in state services, and a lot of other similar things," he said.
"In fact, we are talking about acts that lead to the violation of the rights and the very freedom of economic activity, and the state's failure to perform its duty on ensuring fair competition," he said.
"Corruption demoralizes society and depraves the authorities and the state apparatus," Putin said. He added that this is especially intolerable in judicial and law enforcement agencies, which are directly responsible for combating this menace.
Putin also said corruption violates people's legitimate rights, obstructs economic development, and puts substantial barriers in the way of economic growth.
Therefore, the president described "the detection of the causes and conditions for the spread of corruption" as the prime job for the council.