Putin views anti-corruption fight as consistent policy

To uproot corruption, every offender must be aware that they would never escape punishment, Xinhua quoted Putin as telling at his supporters' meet Monday.

Meanwhile, the fight must be conducted not only at high levels but also on the streets and throughout society, he said.

However, there should be no rush to convict, otherwise the country "will slide back to 1937," Putin warned in a reference to the year of massive political purges in the Soviet Union.

"It is impossible for courts to make rulings and sentence people without sufficient evidence," he said.