Medvedev orders Russian law enforcement to deal with price gougers

The Russian law enforcement authorities as well as the antimonopoly watchdog must deal with speculators, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.

The Russian law enforcement authorities as well as the antimonopoly watchdog must deal with speculators, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Thursday.

"The Prosecutor General's Office, the Internal Affairs Ministry, the Antimonopoly Service and the Tariff Service must deal with those who boost prices and those who gain unfounded benefits. Whoever they are - processers or trade organizations," Medvedev told a State Council meeting.

Medvedev also promised to take immediate action to support households if food prices increased, adding that there were no reasons for higher prices.

"If the situation changes, I will take immediate action to support households, this is our state priority," Medvedev said, and ordered regional governors to monitor the situation.

Russia experienced its worst ever drought this summer which killed a quarter of crops and forced the government to ban grain exports.

SARATOV, Russia, September 2 (RIA Novosti)