Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has dismissed public fears over a new draft law on police currently being discussed by legislators.
Medvedev told the Vedomosti business daily he is convinced the new law will "in no way be a step back" from the effort to reform the country's law enforcement bodies, whose conduct has become a great concern after a number of high-profile police scandals.
One of the most outrageous incidents was the random shooting of several people in a supermarket by an off-duty police officer in April 2009.
In response to growing criticism, Medvedev in late 2009 ordered a large-scale reform of the police, including cuts in officer numbers and the increase of salaries.
If passed, the new law is to come into effect from March 1, 2011.
MOSCOW, January 26 (RIA Novosti)
