The meeting agenda focused on the performance of the Interior Ministry of the Russian Federation and its agencies in 2025 and their priorities for 2026.
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The President’s remarks at the meeting of the Interior Ministry Board
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Mr Kolokoltsev, comrades,
During our expanded meeting today, we will review your performance in 2025 and discuss ways to improve the efficiency of Interior Ministry bodies in such key, high-priority areas as combating crime, maintaining public order, ensuring road safety, preventing illegal migration, and several other areas.
Overall, objective data shows that you achieved positive results last year. In particular, the crime rate has decreased in all federal districts and 80 regions of the Russian Federation. The number of repeat offences has also decreased.
Public order was maintained at a high level during the celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, as well as such events as the Arctic: Territory of Dialogue international forum, the Russia-Islamic World International Economic Forum, and other large-scale events. I know how much work this involved, and I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who organised and carried it out at such a high level.
I would like to mention the following priorities of the Interior Ministry for this year.
First of all, you must build up efforts to solve crimes, primarily serious and extremely serious offences against the person and property crimes. I would like to emphasise that, regrettably, the number of juvenile crimes increased in 2025, for the first time in years. At the same time, the share of serious and extremely serious crimes in that segment exceeded 40 percent. This situation calls for an appropriate and prompt response.
Practice shows that young people are often deliberately involved in criminal activities and recruited into criminal groups. Nearly half of teenagers – 45 percent – have committed crimes as members of organised criminal groups. The criminals who are using teenagers for their own purposes must be identified and held accountable as soon as possible.
Last year’s amendments to the Criminal Code were designed to protect children from becoming entangled in subversive or terrorist activities, among other things. Inciting and masterminding these crimes, as well as encouraging teenagers to commit them, will now be punishable with up to a life sentence. Incidents involving aggressive behaviour by teenagers in schools, colleges and public spaces are also a matter of special concern.
The Interior Ministry must work with other law enforcement agencies to substantially increase its focus on anticipating and preventing these crimes. Of course, it is essential that teenagers experiencing challenges in their families take part in the volunteer movement, practice sports, and work for youth associations. We must do everything to enable these youngsters to avoid tragic mistakes, find their place in life, overcome the challenges they face and fulfil the talents and abilities they all have.
This is a national cause, of course. It goes without saying that all government agencies must contribute to these efforts, including municipal, regional and federal bodies, without diminishing the Interior Ministry’s role.
Fighting extremism also calls for integrated, system-wide, advanced efforts, which must also be smart and agile. Unfortunately, over the past year, the number of extremism-related crimes increased. The Interior Ministry must be firm in eradicating Russophobia, xenophobia and religious strife in all their manifestations, while also stepping up its preventive efforts in order to promptly identify and expose those seeking to destabilise Russia and its society.
In September 2026, the State Duma and regional legislative assemblies will hold their elections. This will be the first time our historical territories – Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions – will elect their federal MPs. It is essential that we create the necessary conditions so that people can vote in freedom and security.
We must pay close attention to fighting cybercrime. Last year, the total number of these crimes decreased, including those targeting the most vulnerable social group, i.e., elderly people and retirees. There is no doubt that this resulted, among other factors, from systemic awareness and prevention campaigns by the Interior Ministry, as well as other dedicated services and law enforcement agencies.
Let me add that stepping up efforts to help victims recover their losses is also important. This is a very sensitive and urgent matter for those who lose their savings and fall into debt.
Traffic police are now facing increased demands. In 2025, we managed to improve road safety and reduce child road traffic injuries, albeit marginally. Here, I would like to acknowledge the extensive collaborative efforts of traffic police officers, regional and municipal authorities, and representatives of the road and transport sectors, and the construction industry.
We must continue to act decisively in this direction. The key benchmark is the Strategy for Improving Road Safety until 2030, with a perspective extending to 2036, which was approved in November last year.
Comrades,
A pressing task for the Interior Ministry is combating economic crime. You have ample experience and expertise in this area, and intensive work is underway. It is essential to consistently uncover and solve such crimes, including those in the defence industry and other sectors of strategic importance to Russia’s security and sovereignty. Special attention must be paid to national projects and programmes aimed at improving the lives of our citizens. Funds allocated for these purposes must be safeguarded against embezzlement, misuse and, even more so, transfer abroad, which, unfortunately, still occurs.
It is also necessary to ensure the further decriminalisation of the consumer market, working alongside colleagues from the Government, federal agencies and regions to “whiten” the economy as a whole. This is one of the most critical tasks facing the Government today, and I strongly urge you to take an active part in it.
At the same time, actions must be taken in a way that does not create barriers for law-abiding businesses. On the contrary, it is important to enhance the competitiveness of the national jurisdiction and business environment. As for the national jurisdiction, it is imperative to improve both its quality and prestige. And, of course, as always, we must respond firmly to corrupt practices in any form.
The fight against illegal migration must be elevated to a new level. The establishment of a migration service within the Interior Ministry should significantly boost this effort. Naturally, we understand that work in this area has been ongoing, but recently, the very status of this service and the decisions taken here should – and, in my opinion, already do – yield tangible results, as should the State Migration Policy Concept adopted last autumn.
The fight against drug trafficking must become more decisive and uncompromising. As of March 1 this year, criminal liability has been introduced for the promotion of narcotics. Those who seek profit from this destructive activity and endanger the lives and health of our younger generation must clearly understand that they will now face far more serious consequences. The Interior Ministry, jointly with other relevant bodies, must establish effective and consistent law enforcement practices in this area.
Colleagues,
The tasks I have mentioned demand the utmost dedication from every employee. They require sustained daily effort and, at times, involve considerable risk.
We are also fully aware that the significant personnel shortage remains a serious challenge for the Interior Ministry. This issue requires comprehensive solutions. Among them is the need to improve the financial and social protections of our employees, a measure that everyone considers essential. A number of decisions have already been taken in this regard, and they will be implemented as early as this year. I will not go into specifics, but it is clear to everyone present here that salary levels are a primary focus.
One of the key options for bolstering the workforce is the recruitment of veterans of the special military operation. Their combat experience, resilience, and mental and physical endurance can substantially reinforce the Interior Ministry’s ranks. I urge you to actively consider such candidates for current vacancies.
In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Ministry’s personnel for their dedication and integrity in fulfilling their duties. I extend special thanks to those who bravely serve as part of the special military operation and who, in cooperation with other security agencies, state authorities, and local government bodies, help maintain public order and uphold the rule of law in Donbass, Novorossiya, and border territories. In challenging conditions, they ensure the safety and rights of citizens. Their courage, professionalism, and principled conduct boost public trust in the state and in the law.
I am confident that the Interior Ministry’s personnel will continue to serve with responsibility and honour. I rely on your professionalism and commitment, and I wish you continued success.
Thank you for your service.
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Vladimir Putin: Comrades,
Addressing the tasks entrusted to the bodies of the Interior Ministry has always been of critical importance for any country – across all areas, at all times. For our country, for Russia today, with its vast diversity and in light of everything unfolding beyond our borders, this work is doubly – even triply – significant. It takes on special national importance. In certain areas, the nature and intensity of your work are comparable to the events taking place on the frontline.
Mr Kolokoltsev mentioned at the beginning of his report here that the situation was different during the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. Moscow has become larger, while the number of people fulfilling the tasks set before the ministry has decreased, but what amazing people they are!
Thank you for your service, and all the best.
Thank you.