President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Prosecutor General, comrades,
Today, as expected, we will review the prosecutor’s office’s performance in 2025 and outline future priorities to strengthen law and order, thereby supporting the sustainable and confident development of our country.
Over the past year, prosecutors at all levels have carried out extensive and highly effective work. Thanks to timely adopted measures, the economic and social rights of a significant number of citizens of our country, including participants in the special military operation, have been successfully restored.
The prosecutor’s office has done a lot to enhance the effectiveness of efforts to combat crime and corruption, as well as to improve mechanisms for direct engagement with citizens through personal consultations. In total, more than seven million people – 7.7 million, to be exact – applied for assistance to the prosecutor’s office in 2025.
It is essential to preserve and build upon the positive trends achieved by the department in recent years. This requires not only addressing longstanding challenges, but also taking into account the realities of the present day.
Perhaps you will hear nothing new from me. The tasks facing the prosecutor’s office remain consistently significant, ambitious, and critically important for the country year after year.
As before, the protection of human rights remains the central focus of prosecutorial activity. This means that supervisory functions must be applied more effectively and consistently to resolve citizens’ most pressing issues and to ensure the full and unconditional execution of their constitutional rights and freedoms.
Among the key priorities is the protection of labour and social rights. It is imperative to continue taking prompt action to restore justice in cases of wage arrears, to guarantee that employees receive all payments due to them under the law, and to ensure proper compensation for damages.
Special attention must also be given to safeguarding the rights of minors, the elderly, and other socially vulnerable groups. Regrettably, violations in these areas persist. I urge you to respond promptly and decisively to such incidents.
Next. Over recent years, a number of significant decisions have been made to support citizens of Russia’s border regions who have lost their homes and property due to attacks by the Kiev regime. It is essential to closely monitor the allocation of compensations and payments. I would like to reiterate: all affected individuals must receive the funds due to them in full and on time.
The utmost attention must be paid to the issues raised by participants in the special military operation and their family members. I emphasise: the entire system of assistance for participants in the special military operation and their loved ones must be transparent, comprehensible, and accessible, functioning in such a way as to reach every individual without fail.
To resolve emerging issues, I request that prosecutors engage more actively with the relevant agencies and organisations, expand the practice of holding personal meetings with citizens, and conducting joint events with the Defenders of the Fatherland State Foundation.
Employees of the military prosecutor’s office make a substantial contribution to this work. I expect that military prosecutors will continue to devote heightened attention to this important area and, of course, will contribute to strengthening law and order in the army and among the Armed Forces.
I would like to underscore: neither official position, nor status, nor even past merits can serve as justification for violating the law, causing damage to the state, infringing upon the rights and lawful interests of other citizens – including those whom we and the Armed Forces are protecting – and especially for violating the rights of fellow servicemen.
A key responsibility of the prosecutor’s office is to coordinate the activities of law enforcement agencies in combating crime.
It is important to intensify efforts to prevent unlawful acts, particularly among children and adolescents.
Matters pertaining to the fight against extremism and terrorism must remain within your constant focus. As previously noted, the number of crimes of a terrorist nature increased significantly last year, and it is necessary, within the scope of your authority, to contribute to enhancing the security of industrial facilities, transport infrastructure, and locations with large gatherings of people.
Equally resolute and proactive measures must be taken to counter extremism, with a firm response to attempts to destabilise the socio-political situation, including through the use of information technologies.
Comrades,
Heightened demands are now being placed on safeguarding the rights of entrepreneurs and all participants in economic activity.
It is noteworthy that, over the past year, supervisory authorities have fully transitioned to a risk-based approach. In cases where no risks were identified, oversight was limited to preventive measures, thereby significantly reducing the number of inspections that often placed undue pressure on businesses.
At this stage, it is essential to conduct a thorough and comprehensive assessment of the outcomes of this approach and to continue eliminating excessive administrative barriers that constrain business activity. This is of fundamental importance for ensuring Russia’s economic sovereignty, maintaining the stable operation of industry, and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in particular. I ask you to proceed in this area with careful judgment and balance, carrying out an optimal number of inspections, while at the same time guaranteeing reliable protection of consumer rights.
People also look to the prosecutor’s office to enhance the effectiveness of anti-corruption efforts. As I noted during recent board meetings of the Federal Security Service and the Ministry of the Interior, priority attention must be given to safeguarding budgetary resources, especially those allocated to national projects and long-term development programmes. Notably, the number of corruption-related crimes increased by 12.3 percent over the past year. It is therefore essential to ensure strict oversight of funds directed towards state defence procurement and the expansion of the military-industrial complex.
In addition, given the growing volume of military production, continuous monitoring of product quality and strict compliance by defenсe industry enterprises with industrial safety regulations are of critical importance.
Equally essential is the work of prosecutors in identifying assets and uncovering the sources of illicit proceeds obtained by corrupt officials.
Environmental protection remains an urgent priority. It is imperative to prevent the reckless exploitation of forests, subsoil resources, land, water bodies, and wildlife; to preserve unique ecosystems and protected natural areas; and to ensure the high-quality performance of agencies responsible for state environmental oversight.
In addition to oversight, one of the key responsibilities of prosecutors is the competent support of state prosecution. This ensures the delivery of well-founded judicial decisions that uphold the principles of legality, fairness, and humanity.
In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to Russian prosecutors for their professionalism, dedication, and systematic and purposeful efforts to protect the rights and legitimate interests of Russian citizens.
Special thanks are due to those serving in Donbass, Novorossiya, and the border regions. Under very challenging circumstances, you are doing everything possible to maintain law and order, address the most pressing and sensitive issues facing citizens, and, through your principled and consistent actions, reinforce people’s trust in the power of our state and the law.
I am confident that Russian prosecutors will continue to carry out their duties with professionalism and responsibility, faithfully upholding the law, serving our state, and protecting the interests of the people of Russia.
Thank you for your attention.
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Vladimir Putin: Mr Gutsan, colleagues.
In conclusion, let me say a few words about the tasks facing the prosecutor’s office.
The tasks of the prosecutor’s office are well known to all of us, having been formulated over centuries – truly, without exaggeration. Much like military regulations, which were refined over decades, often “written in blood,” the duties of the prosecutor’s office have been defined and honed over centuries, dating back to the establishment of the office in the Russian Empire.
And there are no secondary issues here – everything matters. Remove even one element, and gaps immediately appear in social relations, which then cease to be properly regulated and controlled.
That said, the situation is having an impact on current issues, and I would like to highlight a few points.
The Prosecutor General spoke about the election campaign. This deserves special attention: it is essential to ensure full compliance with the law during the campaign and when tallying of results, so that all procedures are lawful. This is crucial because public trust in newly formed government authorities depends on it. It has always been important, and today, especially so. I do not believe I need to explain why to this audience.
The second point I would like to emphasise, as I noted in my opening remarks, is the need for enhanced oversight of developments within the defence industry. Every aspect in this sphere is of critical importance. While the Prosecutor General has already clarified and expanded upon several issues, the situation regarding violations in the defence sector requires particularly close and consistent attention from prosecutors.
First and foremost, the state is investing substantial resources into this industry. These investments are essential not only for addressing immediate needs, but also for building long-term capacity. As global developments clearly demonstrate, we will need to replenish our own reserves, while at the same time significant opportunities are emerging in international markets. However, the immediate priority remains ensuring that the Armed Forces receive the necessary equipment and supplies without delay, particularly for use on the line of contact.
A key criterion in this context is the balance between price and quality. This has traditionally been, and continues to be, one of our principal competitive advantages. The combination of cost efficiency and high quality of our products ensures that the country can meet its security objectives and effectively support the needs of the Armed Forces.
The number of offenses in the defence industry increased by 6.1 percent over the past year. This trend is attributable both to improved statistical reporting in line with current standards and to the expansion of funding and workload in the sector. Nevertheless, this issue requires heightened attention and rigorous oversight.
Since last September, the Prosecutor General’s Office has been led by a new head. However, he is far from new to the system: Alexander Gutsan has dedicated almost all of his professional career to the prosecutor’s office, rising to the position of Deputy Prosecutor General. As you know, he subsequently served in the Presidential Executive Office and now leads the entire system. I believe that under Mr Gutsan’s leadership, the prosecutor’s office will continue to operate with the same level of effectiveness and determination demonstrated in previous years.
I would also like to express my appreciation to Igor Krasnov for his contribution during his tenure as Prosecutor General of Russia, and to wish Mr Gutsan every success in his new role. Thank you for your work.
Thank you very much.