MOSCOW, August 20 (RAPSI) – Russian business ombudsman Boris Titov has stated that criminal cases must not be launched in situations involving non-performance of civil obligations.

According to the ombudsman’s press-service, Titov proposes to amend the Criminal Code of Russia to prevent launch of criminal cases in this instance.

“Today, criminal cases are launched simply for non-performance of economic contracts,” Titov noted. He added that even if most contractual obligations are fulfilled and then a financial default happens, preventing performance of remaining obligations, investigators still launch fraud cases to make a party more cooperative.

The ombudsman said that these cases should be reviewed by commercial courts first and foremost.