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Russian Premier vows to fight corruption

MOSCOW: Russia’s new Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov pledged to further bolster the national defence industry and fight rampant corruption, as Parliament overwhelmingly endorsed his appointment.

“Our strategic goal is to help uplift the defence industry complex,” Mr. Zubkov told the State Duma (lower House) on Friday prior to the 381-47 vote to approve his nomination. He also named ship-building and aviation as key sectors to spearhead Russia’s resurgence as a manufacturing powerhouse.

The new Premier was nominated by President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday after the previous Prime Minister, Mikhail Fradkov, stepped down “to give a free hand” to Mr. Putin to reshuffle the government as he readies to hand over power to a new president next year.

Mr. Zubkov, who headed Russia’s anti-money-laundering watchdog for the past six years, pledged to push through anti-corruption legislation and set up a special corruption-busting task force. “Corruption runs through our society and we need to take measures.”Mr. Zubkovpraised the role of state corporations in promoting technological modernisation of the Russian economy.

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