In line with a recent appeal by President Vladimir Putin, General Prosecutor Yury Chaika has created a special division for upholding the rights of entrepreneurs, a statement by the General Prosecutor's Office said.
The body will aim to ease administrative pressure on businesses, increase the responsibility of governmental structures in carrying out supervisory functions, ensure that market principles are being followed, and defend the rights of all entrepreneurs, prosecutor's office spokeswoman Marina Gridneva said Friday, RIA-Novosti reported.
On Thursday, Putin spoke in favor of creating both an entrepreneurs' rights ombudsman and a body in the General Prosecutor's Office.
In April, then-President Dmitry Medvedev had ordered the government to create either an ombudsman position or a special prosecutor for business rights. Medvedev said a special federal prosecutor could protect businesses from unfair official barriers in doing business.
Business associations in Russia have long accused police and prosecutors of hounding companies and entrepreneurs for bribes.
The new division will be headed by First Deputy Prosecutor General Alexander Buksman and will include among its ranks "the most experienced" prosecutor's office employees, a General Prosecutor's Office statement said.
