ROSTOV-ON-DON, December 18 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian presidential envoy in the Southern Federal District said Monday that law enforcement agencies should put their own house in order before trying to tackle corruption elsewhere.
Dmitry Kozak said people in southern Russia are concerned about corruption in government agencies, but that police statistics in some southern regions show that crimes of corruption are not registered there.
"It is necessary to establish order in law enforcement agencies before trying to fight corruption in government and civil bodies," he said.
"If we start combating corruption today with the help of corrupt agencies, corruption will only double -- bribers will bribe other bribers, and nothing will change," Kozak said.
He said the district should not expect any stability until that problem is resolved.
