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New corruption cases in Russia not short-lived campaign but result of hard work — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov stressed that the struggle against corruption is a daily thorough work and most of it is not public or visible

MOSCOW, April 3. /TASS/. The fight against corruption in Russia is consistent rather than sporadic and a part of this effort is deliberately not made public, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.

"It is impossible to fight against corruption in a come-and-go manner," Peskov said speaking on whether the recent high-profile corruption cases are a certain Kremlin’s signal to officials and business or a necessity during the crisis.

"Single actions cannot be regarded as a kind of a breakthrough," Peskov said, adding that the anti-corruption crusade is not linked to the current economic environment in the country.

The Kremlin spokesman stressed that the struggle against corruption is a "daily thorough work and most of it is not public or visible."

The effort also consists of adopting laws and the work of special services and oversight bodies, he said, reminding that Kremlin chief of staff Sergey Ivanov heads a special commission on these issues.

Peskov said he does not agree with a suggestion that making the anti-corruption activity more transparent in Russia would be useful. "This is not a sphere where transparency is a driver of efficiency," he said.

"That tip of the iceberg /that is visible in this work/ has a disciplinary element," Peskov said.

He also reminded that President Vladimir Putin recently said that "anti-corruption activities are carried out and should be further conducted regardless of posts or cabinets."

The recent corruption scandals that came to light involve Russia’s Far Eastern Sakhalin region Governor Alexander Khoroshavin, who is accused of accepting a $5.6 million bribe, and Alexander Reimer, the former director of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN), detained on charges of a $46 million fraud scheme.