Dishonor in Russia has grown — mass corruption

February 10, 2011 · Analytics, Russia

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There is practically no concept of decency or honesty left in the country and in society. Of course, there are still decent and honest people, but they are perceived by society as outcasts, as abnormal.

Here is an article on this topic:

https://kp.ru/daily/24540.5/719745/

Half of the Country’s Income Ends Up in the Pockets of Corrupt Officials
The World Bank recently calculated the level of corruption in Russia. According to expert data, more than 48% of our economy is in the shadows.
Evgeny BELYAKOV — 16.08.2010

At the same time as the World Bank, Russian experts conducted a similar study, surveying over 6,500 Russians across the country. Interestingly, the results of Western and domestic researchers practically coincided. Why is the state unable to overcome corruption? What prevents citizens from protecting their rights? These and other questions are answered for Komsomolka by the co-author of the report, Evgeny Arkhipov, chairman of the Association of Russian Lawyers for Human Rights and head of the anti-corruption public reception “Clean Hands”.

“THE VICTIM IS TURNED INTO THE ACCUSED”

Your report states that up to 50% of GDP is in the shadows. Does corruption really cost Russia so dearly?
We surveyed both ordinary citizens who filed complaints about corruption and entrepreneurs. According to the latter, on average they have to spend about half of all their expenses on various corruption costs (bribes, kickbacks, and so on). According to information from applicants, the turnover of “dirty money” is even greater in education: in most educational institutions (from kindergarten to university), up to 80% of funds are in the shadows. And in government institutions, up to 90% of services go through intermediaries, that is, disguised corruption.
Why do people openly talk about corruption in surveys or complain to acquaintances, but don’t go to the prosecutor’s office or the police?
First of all, because our law enforcement system is also corrupt. In practice, a person who seeks help can often turn from a victim into an accused. For example, the police can inform the party that offended you about your complaint, and then a criminal case may even be fabricated against you. There are countless examples of this.
Are there really no honest police officers?
There are, but few. In law enforcement agencies, there is a concept of “insider — outsider.” According to unofficial information, you need to work in the security structures for at least a year before they offer you to join the “inner” circle. In that case, you can earn many times more. But before that, they will watch you. If they don’t like you, for example, if you turn out to be too honest, they will create conditions for you to leave on your own, or they will find a reason to fire you. This is how they build relationships within the system, trusting each other, knowing that everyone is in the same boat. That’s why outsiders are not allowed in.

ONLINE BROADCASTS FROM THE COURTROOM

Are there real ways to overcome corruption?
Based on international experience, there are several possible ways. First, Russia should draft a bill on the protection and immunity of those law enforcement officers, court workers, and other government officials who report facts of corruption among their colleagues that have become known to them. Second, online broadcasts should be conducted from the highest judicial instances: the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Arbitration Court. Incidentally, this idea was recently proposed by the Chairman of the Supreme Arbitration Court of Russia, Anton Ivanov. This will make hearings open and create public resonance. By the way, such broadcasts are successfully practiced in the USA, where special TV channels have even been created, for example, “Voice of America.” And third, a complete purge of personnel must be carried out in law enforcement agencies and the judicial system. This is an effective mechanism that has been successfully applied in France, Germany, and even Georgia. There, within a few years, they completely replaced the entire composition of law enforcement agencies in order to eliminate all corrupt connections within the system.
It seems they are also planning to do it here. They even want to rename the police the police…
Yes, but they plan to form it on the basis of the militia. If a police force is to be created, it should be with new personnel who have a different value system and no corrupt ties. They must be people with an impeccable reputation. They need to be trained, including with the involvement of foreign experts. Psychologists and other specialists should work with the recruits. Selection must be strict. All these mechanisms have been practically tested in other countries, where citizens no longer cross to the other side of the street when they see a police officer.
So, maybe it’s worth replacing officials then?
There’s no need for that. After all, if law enforcement agencies were healthy, they would catch corrupt officials among civil servants rather than covering for them, as they do now.
Do many people come to you for help?
There are masses of complaints. But they only come to us as a last resort, after they have exhausted every other avenue and received all possible refusals. In other words, society is ready to live with corruption — in 90% of cases, people try to solve the problem themselves: by slipping a bribe, for example. And only when that doesn’t work, or when officials take the kickback but don’t solve the problem, do they turn to us.

ONLY NUMBERS

How bribe-takers in law enforcement earn

Place    Real monthly income    What they do
Special service employees (FSB, OBEP, etc.)    from $20,000    Provide protection for businesses and engage in corporate raiding
Prosecutors    from $10,000    Provide protection for businesses and criminal structures
Traffic police inspectors (GIBDD)    from $5,000    Extort bribes from motorists
Inquiry officers    from $3,000    Take kickbacks from detainees
District police officers    from $2,000    Shake down illegal immigrants for money
Patrol officers    from $1,000    Provide protection for illegal trade

Based on data from the Russian Association of Lawyers for Human Rights, compiled from citizen appeals between July 2, 2009 and July 30, 2010.

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Here are some excerpts from a report prepared by “Clean Hands” based on a citizen survey

“Black lawyers”

According to reports from citizens who have complained about corruption in the courts, a system of intermediary services through so-called “black lawyers” has become established almost everywhere. These lawyers take on the “work” of settling a case with a specific judge for a certain fee. Most often, the “black lawyers” are relatives or friends of the judges. As applicants recount, the corruption scheme is structured like this: judges recommend their own lawyers to citizens, while “outside” lawyers are squeezed out. For instance, a judge may unequivocally hint at the need to change lawyers or create administrative barriers when a lawsuit is filed. If a party does not engage a “black lawyer,” that party usually loses.

According to unofficial information, in criminal cases, bribe amounts range from 50,000 to 1,000,000 rubles, depending on the complexity of the case. In civil cases, the sums are smaller — starting from 15,000 rubles.

Business in epaulets

In addition to protection rackets and corporate raiding, law enforcement agencies have also begun practicing “employment” for money. This is reported by citizens as well as by internal affairs officers themselves. For instance, one can get a job as an assistant prosecutor for $10,000. And to obtain a lucrative position in a traffic police unit, you’ll need to hand over at least $50,000. Moreover, applicants are not deterred by the low official salary — the “invested capital” can be recouped fairly quickly through illegal income. The activity of the agencies has been turned into a “law enforcement business” where one can amass a fortune. The criterion of professional prestige has become corrupt stability (for more details, see “Only Numbers”).

Expensive public services

According to citizen reports, local officials often extort bribes even for services they are legally obligated to provide. For example, obtaining ownership rights to a plot of land in one district of the Vladimir region, even with all the necessary documents, costs around 40,000 rubles. And to connect a house in the Moscow suburbs to the electricity and gas supply systems, besides the official cost, one must give $10,000 and $15,000 respectively to the responsible officials.

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