They discussed the situation in the law enforcement and penitentiary systems and the implementation of the Law on the Bar.
Mr Chaika said that the number of convicts and detainees had been spectacularly reduced for the first time in many decades, and told the President about measures to improve the living conditions of inmates of prisons and pre-trial detention centres. As far as he knew, there were 120,000 inmates currently in pre-trial detention, compared to 270,000 in 2000.
He also told about a package of statutory acts to implement the Law on the Bar and Advocacy.
Mr Putin paid special attention to the elaboration of the procedure for remuneration of lawyers working free for Russian citizens, and stressed the importance of guaranteeing low-income persons’ access to legal assistance.