Medvedev takes on corruption

Meanwhile, critics believe that the new law might be nothing more than PR. Head of the State Duma Committee on Counter-Corruption, Mr. Mikhail Grishankov, confirms that the bill is ready and that it will be presented to the State Duma as soon as Mr. Medvedev is inaugurated as president. However, as noted by newspaper Kommersant, Mr. Grishanov has on several previous occasions said that the counter-corruption law is in the pipeline, without any action following. Committee chairman Grishanov declined to elaborate in detail on which counter-corruption methods the new law opens up for, only saying that it will have “a warning and preventive character”. He also confirmed that the law will open up for “clear penalties in the administrative sphere” for state officials, and that they will risk being fired if caught in corruption cases. The law elaborators also propose the establishment of new special authority, directly subordinated the president or the prime minister, which is to develop a comprehensive counter-corruption strategy for the country. Mr. Mikhail Grishankov, himself a member of the United Russia party, says the fight against corruption must be seen in a long perspective and that no immediate results can be expected. Sceptics meanwhile believe the high-profile fight against corruption is nothing more than PR. Among them is Gennadii Gudkov, chairman of the State Duma Committee on Security issues and member of the A Just Russia party.