Russian Audit Chamber Has No Intention To Demand Additional Powers

The Audit Chamber of Russia has no intention to become "a new law-enforcement body and demand additional powers," Sergei Stepashin, chairman of the Audit Chamber, stated Wednesday at the meeting of Federation Council (upper parliamentary house) members. "We only need political support from the parliament similar to that rendered by the president," he said. Stepashin noted that criminal cases instituted on the results of the Chamber auditing "are not our end in itself." "But the tandem of my department with law-enforcement agencies is what the country currently needs to restore order in economic and financial sphere," he said. That's why the Audit Chamber will continue working in this direction. Speaking about the key tasks facing the Audit Chamber in the near future Stepashin reported that it will attach "primary importance" to Russia's foreign debt, assessing risks while forming financial resources of the state, and more efficient use of state property. Moreover, according to him, privatisation of strategically important enterprises should be conducted only after their expert assessment by the Audit Chamber.