News Release
21.01.2010
The head of the economic safety department of the Ministry of Interior of Russia, lieutenant general of militia Yuri Shalakov told "Interfax" on the Anniversary Day of his department about the activity of the body during the social and economic crisis.
- Mr. Shalakov, during the crisis considerable funds are allocated from national budget to support the economy. Do your authorities track how they are spent?
- Yes, in the event there is an infringement against the criminal legislation. And we track more than just how the monetary resources allocated for the economy support in crisis are spent. We reveal and prevent offences in the credit and financial sphere as a whole. In comparison with 2007, no criminal rate growth in the country financial system has been observed yet.
- But the turmoil has only begun. Would you predict an increase in the number of economic crimes this year?
- The crisis can indeed make a situation in some spheres of the economic activity quite complicated. More infringements concerning illegal cashing and transfer of money into the shadow is predictable. This can slow down financing of small and average enterprises and cause a delay in implementation of infrastructural projects. Also, considering the economic instability more attempts of plundering budgetary funds allocated particularly for projects of state corporations and federal target programs can be expected to be made.
- Should we be prepared for a property redistribution and hence, a new wave of corporate raid captures?
- The merges and absorptions not contradicting the Russian legislation will for certain become more obvious, for many enterprises who are on the verge of bankruptcy today are compelled to optimize their management structure. And for captures committed by power methods, the militia authorities has performed a number of successful operations against such raiders in Moscow, St.-Petersburg as well as Sverdlovsk region, Leningrad reigon and a number of other regions producing a wide response from the population. Facing the law enforcement bodies' counteraction the raiders have now discarded using gangster methods. Since 2004, the number of such captures has been steadily decreasing. Besides, enacting a set of anti-raider laws which is currently in the State Duma has a strategic value.
- What are problems youê department faces in terms of struggle against corruption?
- We consider corruption as one of basic hazards for the economy of the country and we will struggle against dishonest officials disregarding whatever ranks and titles. Last year we boosted the law enforcement bodies' activity to improve the qualitative aspect of official malfeasances we revealed to have been committed in public authorities and local authorities. Among the corrupt officials made liable there are not only ordinary employees but also heads.
Useful facts:
The economic safety department of the Ministry of Interior of Russia was established in 2005 by a corresponding Decree of the RF President Vladimir Putin during restructuring of the Ministry of Interior.
Today, employees of economic safety departments are engaged in prevention, revealing, suppression and disclosure of economic crimes affecting legitimate rights and interests of citizens and undermining the economic system of the state.
The editorial office of the news agency "Interfax" congratulates the management and the employees of the economic safety department on their professional holiday and wishes them success and more victories in the difficult struggle against the criminality as they protect economic interests of Russia and its citizens.