MOSCOW, September 26 (RAPSI) - Prosecutor General Yury Chaika says it is time in Russia to balance the authority of the prosecutor’s office and the investigative agencies to comply with international standards, RIA Novosti reports this Friday.

As a result of a reform of the prosecution and investigative bodies in Russia in 2007, the investigative agencies were separated from the prosecutor’s offices, which now only have the authority to supervise adherence to the law. Prosecutors are no longer allowed to open criminal cases.

Chaika believes that the shift in responsibilities from the prosecutors to the investigative agencies was supposed to “expand the role” of the latter.

Previously, the prosecutor had more extensive authority to make decisions on the fate of defenders and the course of cases, including the authority to close a case.

Chaika said the balance between the authorities has now been partially restored. Prosecutors have now received the right to override an investigator’s decision to not open a criminal case, or suspend or stop an investigation.