Medvedev proposes databank on rogue officials

Moscow, March 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has proposed establishing an online resource that would provide information on action taken against government officials guilty of abuses and other misdemeanors.

The resource should provide up-to-date information, for example, on a government official charged with a crime, Medvedev said.

"We can write that the charges were dismissed for lack of evidence, or that he has been convicted," Medvedev said.

That information should be available for all media outlets to publish at their discretion, he added.

Medvedev also proposed a higher level of publicity and transparency "for our open government and our state as a whole", including the publication of tax declarations filed by all senior officials.

Exceptions will be made for top officials, such as the president, prime minister, cabinet members and governors, he added.

--IANS/RIA Novosti

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