The average bribe in Russia surged 3.5 times in 2011 in comparison to 2010, a spokesman for the Russian Interior Ministry's Main Economic Security Department told Interfax. Critics see government anti-corruption efforts in 2011 as half-hearted. "The average bribe paid to a government or corporate official grew more than 3.5 times to 236,000 rubles," the Interior Ministry official said, according to Interfax. The amount of damage compensation for crimes committed went up more than 50% to roughly R4.5bn, the official added.
Russia switched May 2011 to a controversial system of fining bribe-takers up to 100 times the bribe they have taken, with a maximum fine of R500m, instead of jailing them. According to Vedomosti, the largest fine so far imposed has been a R300m ($10m) fine imposed on the head of a Tatarstan district, which comprised 60 times the bribe he accepted. Runners-up were a police mayor in Nizhny Novgorod fined R11m and a police investigator fined R3.9m, both in November 2011
However, critics say it is too easy for offenders to move their assets to relatives or otherwise hide assets, and then declare themselves unable to pay the fine.
Critics also say that government anti-corruption efforts focus on small fry rather than the big fish in top government positions. Sergei Ivanov, newly appointed head of the presidential administration, chairing a meeting of Presidential Anti-corruption Council January 26, claimed the most corrupt sectors to be health, education and housing, rather than the energy sector with its billions of dollars.
Critics also point out that Russia has failed to sign the 20th article of the United Nation's anti-corruption convention, concerning the combatting of illegal enrichment, writes business daily Vedomosti.
Keywords: Russia, Corruption - Russia News - Russia
The average bribe in Russia surged 3.5 times in 2011 in comparison to 2010, a spokesman for the Russian Interior Ministry's Main Economic Security Department told Interfax. Critics see government anti-corruption efforts in 2011 as half-hearted.
"The average bribe paid to a government or corporate official grew more than 3.5 times to 236,000 rubles," the Interior Ministry official said, according to Interfax. The amount of damage compensation for crimes committed went up more than 50% to roughly R4.5bn, the official added.
Russia switched May 2011 to a controversial system of fining bribe-takers up to 100 times the bribe they have taken, with a maximum fine of R500m, instead of jailing them. According to Vedomosti, the largest fine so far imposed has been a R300m ($10m) fine imposed on the head of a Tatarstan district, which comprised 60 times the bribe he accepted. Runners-up were a police mayor in Nizhny Novgorod fined R11m and a police investigator fined R3.9m, both in November 2011
However, critics say it is too easy for offenders to move their assets to relatives or otherwise hide assets, and then declare themselves unable to pay the fine.
Critics also say that government anti-corruption efforts focus on small fry rather than the big fish in top government positions. Sergei Ivanov, newly appointed head of the presidential administration, chairing a meeting of Presidential Anti-corruption Council January 26, claimed the most corrupt sectors to be health, education and housing, rather than the energy sector with its billions of dollars.
Critics also point out that Russia has failed to sign the 20th article of the United Nation's anti-corruption convention, concerning the combatting of illegal enrichment, writes business daily Vedomosti.