Putin: High crime rate in Russia affects our international prestige

Russia's president Vladimir Putin stated that the high crime rate in Russia adversely affects the country's international prestige.

"Crime has destructive impact on all the spheres of society's life - from the economy to morality, and the high crime rate in Russia adversely affects the country's international authority", the president of Russia said addressing the enlarged meeting of the Board of Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office.

He expressed concern over the lack of coordination in the law-enforcement bodies' activity.

"Proper effectiveness in the questions of coordination has not been observed so far", the head of state said. "Disunity and a departmental approach are still seen in the law-enforcement block's work." Putin noted that "the problem of crime remains pressing and very much worries the country's citizens."