Electoral competition must be fair and transparent - Vladimir Putin

UFA, 3 December 2015. /Bashinform News Agency, Galiya Nabieva/. The theme of the upcoming elections 2016 to the State Duma was touched upon by the Russian President in his Annual Address to the Federal Assembly.

"The pre-election competition must be fair and transparent, be conducted in the framework of the law, with respect to the voters. Moreover it is necessary to ensure absolute public confidence in the election results, their strong legitimacy", outlined the task the President of Russia.

The head of the state urged the candidates to pay the necessary attention to anti-corruption issues in their election programs.

"These issues are of major concern for our society. Corruption is an obstacle for the development of Russia ", said Vladimir Putin.

Officials, judges, law enforcement officers and deputies at all levels are obliged to submit their income and expense declarations and declare their property and assets, including outside Russia.

From now on, state and municipal officials will also have to disclose information about the contracts they plan to sign with the companies of their relatives and friends. Situations with a possible conflict of interest will be closely monitored by the regulatory and law enforcement authorities, as well as civil society, marked the head of the state.