Russians think local authorities are becoming increasingly corrupt – poll

MOSCOW. Oct 23 (Interfax) – Russians believe that the degree of corruption in Russia as a whole remains high with the local authorities being the most corruption-ridden sphere, sociologists tell Interfax.

Studies conducted by VTsIOM public opinion center over the years indicate that presently 80% of respondents find the current degree of corruption high while last year the opinion was shared by 75%.

High degrees of corruption are spoken of primarily by residents of big and medium-sized cities (86-89%).

Russians name the local authorities as the most corruption-ridden sphere with the number of people holding this opinion increasing from 28% to 39% in five years. The traffic police and federal authorities are named in second place. But while complaints about corruption are declining with regard to the traffic police (from 33% to 27%), complaints about the federal authorities are on the rise (from 15% in 2008 to 26% now).

The third group consists of the police (excluding traffic police) and health care – both were named at 19% by respondents. Complaints about law enforcement have declined (from 26% to 19%) the same as about courts and big business (18% each).

The next group is the municipal economy and education (14% and 13% each). Conscription offices and the army as a whole and parliament are down with 6%, 4% and 5% respectively.

Even though the idea of a high degree of corruption is widely spread most Russians did not give any bribes during the past year (80%). In the first place this applies to elderly respondents (87%).

Meanwhile, 19% confessed having given bribes but they were sooner singular cases (12%) than an established practice (7%). The confessions were made mainly by residents of Moscow and St. Petersburg (36%) aged 35-44 (25%).

Those who said they gave bribes during the year said this happened mainly in contacts with medical workers (54%).

Sociologists say that corruption has noticeably fallen in education – from 36% respondents speaking of it in 2008 to 21% in 2013.

The poll conducted on October 5-6 involved 1,600 adults in 130 cities and towns in 42 constituent territories of Russia.