The Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Economic Security and Combating Corruption together with regional divisions take an active part in implementing the state policy on protecting animals that are on the endangered-species list.

Upon Minister of the Interior Vladimir Kolokoltsev’s instruction, the Department for Biological Resources Protection was created to combat the poaching of endangered animal species and damage to their habitat.

President Vladimir Putin signed a law on introducing more severe punishment for the poaching and trafficking of endangered animal species.

Now, such actions stipulate criminal responsibility only – imprisonment for up to seven years and fines amounting to up to 2 million roubles.