President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Comrades,
I welcome you at the official ceremony in the Kremlin. Congratulations on your appointment to higher command positions and the conferment of higher military ranks.
Your experience, the ability to effectively solve tasks and serve as an example for your subordinates receive deserved recognition. I expect that your new powers will allow you to more fully uncover your professional potential and to achieve significant success in strengthening the defence capability of Russia and protecting law and order.
One of the key areas of our common work is developing the Armed Forces. I repeat, Russia is not threatening anyone. We strictly abide by our obligations in the field of international security and arms control. We are always open for constructive partner work in the interests of stability in the world.
At the same time, our duty is to do everything necessary to reliably protect our Motherland from any potential threats. Therefore, we will continue to update the army and navy, primarily under the new State Armament Programme, which has been implemented since the beginning of this year. It focuses on the development and supply of advanced weapons and equipment to the troops. Many of them will soon be ready for mass production. In their tactical and technical characteristics, they are significantly ahead of foreign developments, and some simply have no analogues.
The operational and combat training level of the troops is to be raised. At the same time, it is necessary to fully take into account the experience of the military operation in Syria, the nature of potential threats and to solve increasingly complex and multifaceted tasks. It is precisely such tasks that our troops successfully worked through recently together with the military personnel from China and Mongolia during the most ambitious manoeuvres in the history of our country, Vostok-2018.
Of course, we will develop the best military traditions of our Motherland. This year, a military-political agency was established in the Armed Forces. Its task is to educate the young generation of service personnel using the examples of patriotism, loyalty to military duty and responsibility for the Motherland. At all times, these values have been the moral foundation of the Russian Army and fuelled its victorious spirit. This is how it should be in the future too.
Comrades, the stable development of Russia, the security of our citizens depend directly on the efficiency and quality of work of the security and law enforcement agencies.
I would like to note that in the nine months of this year, Federal Security Service personnel prevented 26 terrorist crimes, including 15 terrorist attacks. These figures testify to the saved lives of our citizens.
It is essential to continue acting with equal determination and efficiency. In close cooperation with the National Anti-Terrorism Committee, we need to gradually lower the level of the terrorist threat, first of all through up-to-date information and careful preventive measures.
This fully applies to all other areas of your work: counteracting extremism and corruption, protecting the state border and counteracting foreign security agencies.
The Foreign Intelligence Service is also facing demanding tasks. Your information on global and regional challenges and developments in hot spots must be as detailed, accurate and as timely as possible.
I would like to note that some areas of the Interior Ministry’s activity saw an improvement in 2018. Together with other law enforcement and security agencies, police officers efficiently ensured security at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
The Federal National Guard Service also has a wide range of tasks. You must promptly suppress any violation of public order. Please note that it is necessary to significantly improve gun control. I expect from you concrete proposals, including regarding the legal framework.
The priorities of the Prosecutor’s Office bodies include ensuring the social rights of citizens and the legality in spending budget funds, as well as overseeing the implementation of legislation in the housing and utilities sector.
Of course, prosecutors must promptly respond to violations of labour and pension law, citizens' rights to healthcare and education, as well as to abuses of power by officials in the law enforcement and regulatory agencies.
The Investigative Committee staff must focus on investigating the most dangerous crimes.
I would like to note the great commitment of the Federal Guard Service personnel. I hope that you will continue to successfully accomplish the tasks before you, including ensuring the reliable operation of special communications and the hosting of major international events.
Russian rescuers work competently and smoothly. It is important to keep public places under constant control, including educational institutions, shopping, cultural, leisure and sports centres and large transport facilities.
The Chief Directorate for Special Programmes makes a major contribution to the security of Russia. The stable functioning of state civil and military authorities largely depends on the quality of your work.
The Federal Penitentiary Service should also focus on solving priority tasks. One of them is to upgrade the infrastructure of correctional institutions. The conditions of detention of prisoners must meet modern standards, and the security system must be reliable.
Comrades, I am sure you will do everything necessary to effectively solve the tasks that have been set for you.
In turn, the state will continue to strengthen the social guarantees of service personnel.
Thus, from October 1, 2019, taking into account the decision on indexation, the monetary allowance for service personnel and persons of equivalent status will increase by 4.3 percent, and military pensions will also be further indexed by another 2 percent as of October 1, 2019. Thus, the overall increase in military pensions will be 6.3 percent.
I instruct the Government to allocate appropriate resources in the 2019–2021draft federal budget, and I ask parliament members to support the necessary amendments.
In conclusion, I wish you health and success in your service, and happiness and well-being to your families and loved ones.
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