02.05.2012
Russian Ministry of Justice declined to promote a draft law stiffening punishment for bribe-taking in defense industry, writes Izvestiya. The document developed by parliamentary anti-corruption committee implies a 15-year long imprisonment and a bribe-hundredfold penalty. According to Ministry of Justice, corruption in defense industry is no different from usual bribe-taking.
The draft law was initiated by vice premier Dmitry Rogozin and the chairwoman of parliamentary anti-corruption committee Irina Yarovaya. Rogozin repeatedly stated earlier that bribe-taking in defense industry should be equaled with treason against the state. Ministry of Justice considers however that the draft bill is trespassing against the principle of equality before the law. Besides, the ministry's spokesman said the acting articles of Russian criminal code were suitable enough.
In particular, Article 204 (commercial bribery) and Article 290 (acceptance of a bribe) extend to "all citizens of Russia regardless of their activities", said the spokesman for Ministry of Justice. According to Mrs. Yarovaya, the Supreme Court did not endorse the initiative either, referring to lack of statistics.
Presently, Rogozin and Yarovaya are about to work on another draft law along with Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Court and submit it for re-examination. It should be noted that the Rogozin's initiative was earlier backed by Prime Minister Putin. In particular, in Feb 2012 Putin wrote in his article "Being Strong: National Security Guarantees for Russia" that "corruption in the area of national security is essentially a treason against the state".
Late in Jan 2012, Federal Service for Defense Order promulgated audit results of defense companies responsible for execution of State Defense Order 2011. Totally, there were 257 inspections held; as a result, the agency revealed economic violations to the amount of RUR 25 bln, given that the overall defense order was RUR 870 bln.
Judge Advocate General Sergei Fridinsky declared in Jan 2012 that corruption damage in Russian Armed Forces had exceeded RUR 3 bln in 2011; 250 bribetakers were revealed through the year. According to Fridinsky, corrupt practices in defense order have become "enormous".
