Putin approves principles of civil servants' professional conduct

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to approve the generalprinciples of civil servants' professional conduct. The President's PressService reported to RBC that the aim of the decree was to increase publicconfidence in state institutions, to create conditions for civil servantsto honestly and efficiently fulfill their duties and to eradicateviolations of the regulations on civil service. Thus, according to thedecree, a civil servant is obliged to work within the limits of thecompetence of a respective state agency, specified in laws and officialregulations. Additionally, a civil servant shall not give preference to anyprofessional or social group, or organization and shall not be subject toany influence an individual, a professional or social group, or anorganization. A civil servant should avoid any moves influenced bypersonal, financial and other interests, hampering the honest fulfillmentof professional duties. A civil servant shall prevent attempts to involvecivil servants in actions by political parties and other publicassociations. This decree shall come into force on the date of officialpublication. .