8 Dec 2009 12:12

Russian govt drafting measures to increase responsibility on businesses

PERM. Dec 8 (Interfax) - The Russian government will soon submit proposals to change the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Penal Code to increase businesses' responsibility, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said.

"We must perfect the existing legislation. Very soon proposals will be made to change the Code of Administrative Offenses and the Penal Code," Putin said at a meeting in Perm last night.

As far as relations with the business sector are concerned, "this is some vicious cycle altogether for us," he said.

"You give more rights to controlling bodies - corruption rises; you start reducing pressure on the business sector - this instantly results in neglect and lack of discipline and the so-called optimization of spending, primarily, on safety," Putin said.

"Eventually, this affects people's health and even lives," he said.