European Union Forums

[Steven]

I recently read that corruption in Russia reach 120 billion dollars a year - equivalent of a third of the national budget. Do you think the new president Medvedev will change the situation?

[Faw_Peter]

Russia seems to become more and more democratic, but the problem is that it's too big, and the most of bribes are given not in Moscow or St. Petersburg, but across the whole country, that's why in order to remove corruption, good leaders in each region must be elected

[LION]

I think that in the near future the corruption in Russia will not dissapear,it's a matter of mentality,people with certain power are used with bribes,and a complex anti-corruption programm is needed

[Benn]

It was proved that the most corrupted bodies in Russia is the Police (along with the Ministry of Internal Affairs), followed by teachers and not forget to mention doctors. People take and give bribes despite the fact that the law stipulates severe punishment for that, the jail time reaching 15 years (depending on the case).

[Faw_Peter]

Do you remember the legal-suit for Hadarkovsy's case (general president of "Yukos")? He was blamed for not paying taxes to the state in an amount of several billion dollars. Now he does time in prison for 10 years...
A good corruption example.

[Steven]

Hadarkovsky's case is not the only one of this size. There was another oligarch in Russia - Berezovski, who know is under political asylum in UK.

[M.Helen]

What is really dangerous is that corruption persists in the medical area. Can you imagine how many people depend on some students who simply gave bribe for obtining the doctor diploma.

[LION]

Faw_Peter,you obviously don't know well the Hodorkovsky case
Actually he was sued because he refused to support the governement and had sponsored instead an opposition candidate.and the authorities reactioned this way - created a case agains him and got him to jail
this is a good example of situation in modern Russia

[Faw_Peter]

oh, but yes Lion, I am aware of the Hadarkovsky's case. Yes, that's about corruption in Russia. Russian authorities knew he was making money laundering, but it kept silence until it financed the opposite party.

[Terry]

I am sure, big Russian oligarchs and businessmen use to pay certin unofficial taxes to the state. If they don't, they may have problems with the government.

[clearman]

quote"When the famous Russian historian and writer Nikolay Karamzin, who lived in the 19th century was asked to describe Russia's government, his answer was one word: "Voruyut" - "They steal." Two centuries later President Putin admitted that he'd failed in fighting corruption. But his successor, Dmitry Medvedev said he is not going to put up with this evil."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1UPklXw ... re=related

[Faw_Peter]

Let's hope it happens so. The problem of Russian corruption persists because it's very big, and its governing structure is very complex, so it's difficult to control corruption on authority level.

[Terry]

A competent Russian mass media source says that the level of corruption in Russia is 2000 times higher than the statistics show

[LION]

Yeap,the statistics are often wrong...
I think that the elimination of corruption in Russia will last at least 7-10 years,it's a matter of complex anti-corruption campaign that will change the mentality of peple that give bribes

[Terry]

1 year for corruption means a lot - it can "issue" a lot of poor-skilled students, as well as kill many others if we speak of corruption in medical institutions.

[Faw_Peter]

about corruption in Russia
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dc-9Y69XAew

[M.Helen]

Medvedev wants to change the things which Putin didnt' managed. These were his words. Let's hope he will do that in the following years.

[Benn]

I have read that during Putin's governmnet, corruption increased five times since the beginning of his mandate.

[Nicholas]

Wow!!! Now that’s a number!!!
Corruption is a synonym for Russian, that will never die.

[Karl.in.eu]

I have read that during Putin's governmnet, corruption increased five times since the beginning of his mandate.

Strange. To me Putin seemed to be more responsible, than his fellow Yeltsin was.

[Hakan G]

Wow!!! Now that’s a number!!!
Corruption is a synonym for Russian, that will never die.

If proper democratic measures will be adopted then the phenomenon will decrease in its power and will soon disappear.

[Nicholas]

Wow!!! Now that’s a number!!!
Corruption is a synonym for Russian, that will never die.

If proper democratic measures will be adopted then the phenomenon will decrease in its power and will soon disappear.

It won’t help, it’s in the people’s mindset, they will continue to do it, even if there will be authorities to defend their interest.
There is no trust.

[Faw_Peter]

Wow!!! Now that’s a number!!!
Corruption is a synonym for Russian, that will never die.

If corruption is synonim to Russia, have you thought what it means for other former socialist countries?

[Nicholas]

Wow!!! Now that’s a number!!!
Corruption is a synonym for Russian, that will never die.

If corruption is synonim to Russia, have you thought what it means for other former socialist countries?

Do you mean situation is much worse there?

[Benn]

As far as I know, the situation in former socialist countries is much worse than in Russia. Take Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia - these are places for international money laundering.