Putin decrees new anti-drug commission

MOSCOW, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Russian President Putin signed a declaration establishing a state anti-drug commission, the Kremlin announced Saturday.

The measure designates the nation's current anti-drug service chairman, Viktor Cherkesov, as head of the new commission.

Commissions are set at the federal and local levels, acting in coordination to counter regional drug trafficking.

Committee members must be named within a month and Parliament must approve financial and technical appropriations in three months, RIA Novosti said.