Putin demands crackdown on defense order money embezzlement
MOSCOW. Dec 4 (Interfax) - Embezzlement of funds allocated for state defense orders is a threat to national security, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, adding that such crimes should be fought as harshly as terrorism.
"Misuse or embezzlement of budget funds assigned for state defense orders should be regarded as a direct attack on national security," Putin said in the address to the Federal Assembly.
"Such facts should be dealt with as seriously and severely as we do in the prevention of financial terrorism. There is nothing to whitewash or conceal there," Putin remarked.
He ordered the Defense Ministry, the Federal Financial Monitoring Service and other interested structures to develop a system of control over funds allocated for state defense orders.
"I order the Defense Ministry, Rosfinmonitoring and other interested structures to develop a system of strict and effective control over the use of state defense order money," he said.