Putin Officials, Judges Seen Topping Russia Corruption in Survey
(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Anton Doroshev & Ilya Arkhipov – June 9, 2013) Police, judges and lawmakers, as well as bureaucrats, are seen in Russia as the most corrupt groups, fueling popular discontent with the government, according to a global survey by Transparency International.
Five percent of Russian respondents rated President Vladimir Putin’s anti-corruption campaign as effective, a sharp drop from a 2010 poll, according to the survey of people in 107 countries released today. It’s part of a global trend in which half of those surveyed perceive corruption as worsening in the past two years, according to the Berlin-based watchdog’s report.
Russia is one of only seven nations, including Libya, Pakistan and Serbia, where public servants are seen as the most corrupt of 12 institutions, according to the survey. Putin’s third term as president has been marked by high-profile probes, including one that led to the ouster of Anatoly Serdyukov as defense minister, while no top government officials have been charged. Russia remains the world’s most corrupt major economy, according to a 2012 report by Transparency International.
“Russia is a state where corruption is the root of functioning,” Yuliy Nisnevich, a Transparency International board member in Russia. Outrage at “the ultimate form of social injustice” is growing, and “an explosion will come when people say they are ready for direct action,” he said.
Ninety-two percent of Russian respondents said bureaucrats enrich themselves and abuse their positions more than other groups. Police were seen as second-most corrupt, followed by judges and lawmakers. Business was ranked 10th in Russia, while religious bodies were last, tagged by 40 percent.
While 5 percent of the Russian respondents saw Putin’s efforts as effective, none said they were “very effective,” down from 18 percent and 6 percent respectively in 2010, according to Transparency International.
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