"The main goal is to achieve the independence of the courts in their work. There is a well-known principle that judges should be subordinate only to the law, and this is essentially a basis for respecting a court, a belief in just court proceedings," Medvedev told a conference on the judicial system's development.
The president, a former lawyer, has made the fight against corruption one of his main goals since taking office last month, and is set to head a new anti-corruption council. He has also given instructions to draw up a national action plan to counter corruption.
To make progress in making the judicial system independent, "we need to consider a whole range of issues aimed at eradicating unjust rulings that we know exist, and that often emerge as a result of various kinds of pressure, phone calls and, it cannot be denied, for money," he said.
Medvedev said laws on the judicial system must be amended, and that bureaucracy must be reduced.
He also said a working group on improving the court system will be established.
Anton Ivanov, the chairman of Russia's Supreme Arbitration Court, told the conference that draft laws to improve the judicial system will be ready by fall.
