Russians’ greatest worry is corruption; only 4 percent worried about rights – poll

(Interfax – March 21, 2013) Over the past three years, the Russians have become less concerned about inflation, unemployment and economic crisis in the country and significantly more concerned about growing corruption, social inequality and uncontrolled immigration, Russian Interfax news agency reported on 21 March, citing an opinion poll carried out by the Levada Centre in February.

According to the Russians, the main threats to the country are rising prices and the impoverishment of large sections of society – 68 and 52 per cent respectively named these problems as their main worries, Interfax learnt at the Levada Centre.

At the same time the number of Russians concerned about the rate of inflation has fallen by three percentage points since 2010.

The numbers of those concerned about the problems of unemployment and decline in the economic development of the country have also fallen from 47 to 35 per cent, and from 36 to 29 per cent.

In the same period, the number of those speaking about growing corruption and bribery in the country has increased from 28 to 39 per cent, and this is the highest number in the last 12 years, according to Levada Centre experts, (23 per cent in 2006 and 25 per cent in 2007).

The Russians are also increasingly unhappy about a growing gap between the rich and the poor (29 per cent in 2010 and currently 35 per cent), decline in morals (from 28 per cent to 30 per cent), unavailability of education (from 16 per cent to 24 per cent) and influx of migrants (from 10 per cent to 17 per cent).

Like three years ago, the Russians speak with alarm about poor medical care (28 per cent), growing drug addiction (22 per cent), arbitrariness of the officials (16 per cent), weak authorities (10 per cent), deterioration of inter-ethnic relations and possibility of terrorist attacks (8 per cent each).

The Russians are less and less concerned about environmental issues (the number has fallen from 21 per cent to 16 per cent), rudeness and brutality of policemen (from 12 per cent to 9 per cent).

Least of all are the Russians worried about restrictions on civil rights and democratic freedoms in the country, as well as delays in payment of salaries, pensions and benefits (4 per cent each), the survey showed.

The total sum exceeds 100 per cent because respondents could select multiple options, Interfax said.