RF Justice Min opposes idea to unite Ministry, Prosecutor Office

MOSCOW, May 22 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian Justice Minister Alexander
Konovalov opposes the idea to unite the Justice Ministry and the
Prosecutor-General's Office, like in other countries. The idea has been
under discussion for more than one year.
"The independence of the Russian Prosecutor's Office, its centralised
vertical is our legal system's achievement," he said in a televised
interview in the Saturday News broadcast on the Rossiya-1 Channel. He
noted at the same time that he had worked in the system of the
prosecutor's office for 13 years and had "nothing bad to say about it".
But he admitted it would be advisable "to more adequately define the
mission of the prosecutor's office, with taking into consideration
realities of the present."
The minister also denied the rumours that his candidacy was under
consideration for the post of prosecutor-general to replace Yuri Chaika.
Konovalov said it was not offered to him.