Mr Putin and Mr Lebedev discussed independence of courts from local authorities. Mr Putin said that all courts should be financed from the federal budget. The Acting President also emphasised the need to increase judges’ salaries and improve the material and technical basis of all the courts. Mr Putin was going to raise the issue on increasing the financing for the judicial system from the 2001 budget.
During the meeting the need to work more efficiently on passing laws, particularly in the Supreme Court and regular courts, was noted. Mr Lebedev said that the lack of laws had a negatively impact on the judicial system.