Fighting Corruption in Russia

October 2010

Click here to visit ModernRussia.com

* Materials disseminated by Ketchum Inc. on behalf of the Russian Federation. Additional information regarding the dissemination of these materials can be obtained at the Department of Justice.

Fighting Corruption in Russia

Widespread corruption is commonly acknowledged as one of Russias most acute problems, and a major obstacle to the countrys social and economic development. Since the very start of his term in office, President Dmitry Medvedev has prioritized the fight against corruption in his modernization agenda. In July 2008, he presented a National Anti-Corruption Plan, which was complemented in April 2010 by a comprehensive National Strategy for Countering Corruption. Both documents, which combine a set of corrective and preventive measures, provide a concrete roadmap to tackle a phenomenon which Medvedev described as a threat to the countrys social stability and national security. OBJECTIVES AND RATIONALE Adhering to international standards: One of the main objectives linked to the adoption of official documents such as the National Plan and the National Strategy is to establish a formal set of measures against which Russias actions to tackle corruption can be accurately identified and assessed. This is recommended by the Council of Europes Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) and should serve as a signal to foreign businesses and investors that Russia is determined to adhere to international standards of public administration and corporate governance. Combining sanction and prevention: Russias approach to the fight against corruption comprises a number of measures aimed at tightening sanctions against corrupt behavior, but also at reducing the incentives for such behavior in the first place. Such measures include in particular the development of egovernment services, which will improve Russian citizens access to information while streamlining administrative procedures. Involving civil society: Beyond the introduction of more efficient sanctions and deterrents, the National Plan and Strategy also pursue the broader goal of shifting the Russian publics general mindset and attitude toward corruption, from acceptance and resignation to the perception that corruption is an intolerable social evil. [W]hat is much more important than policy concepts, than documents, than even those laws that have been adoptedis the overall state of affairs, the attitudes to this phenomenon in our country, in the government, among the bureaucracy and among ordinary people, President Medvedev said in April this year. For this purpose, the strategy insists on the need to involve civil society in various anti-corruption initiatives, in particular through the use of the media. Aiming for long-term results: As President Medvedev noted in 2009, corruption in Russia has a systemic nature, deep historic roots. This is why it will take time before significant results, which require changes in the fundamental attitudes of Russian society, can be felt. I don't think we can achieve tangible results in one year or two. If I am a realist we could get good results in 15," the president said.

KEY MEASURES Ban on arbitrary inspections of small and medium enterprises: One of President Medvedevs first measures on assuming office was to bar state authorities (from police and firefighters to health inspectors) from entering and inspecting small businesses without an appropriate instruction from a court or prosecutor, as such arbitrary inspections were largely used as a pretext to extort bribes. Stricter controls and rules of conduct for civil servants: o In accordance with the Federal Law on Fighting Corruption from December 25, 2008, federal government agencies must set up commissions to oversee the compliance of civil servants with standards of professional conduct. On May 21, 2010, Kremlin Spokesman Alexei Pavlov also confirmed that the Justice Ministry is drafting legislation that will ban bureaucrats from accepting gifts, strip corrupt officials of their immunity and clear the way for confiscating bribe-takers assets. The Russian Interior Ministry recently proposed the introduction of new instruments intended to identify corrupt civil servants by testing their resistance to bribery: according to the new measure, which still needs to be approved and would require a change to Russias criminal code, civil servants suspected of corruption would be offered bribes by undercover investigators with the potential consequence of being fired if they agree.

Civil service reform: The Russian authorities have taken a number of steps to reform the civil service in order to make it leaner, more efficient and less vulnerable to corruption. While a complete overhaul of the Interior Ministry is planned for 2011-2012, Moscows police force will be slashed by 22 percent by the end of 2011 and rank-and-file officers will see their pay more than double, Bloomberg reported in April. In September this year, Finance Minister Kudrin announced another cut of 100,000 in government staff by 2013. Preventing corruption in public tenders: Ensuring that public procurements are fairly attributed is key to fighting corruption, which is why President Medvedev recently issued instructions to the government to design an effective system for monitoring tenders for the procurement of medical equipment. The new monitoring system should be in place by February 2011. Developing e-government services: While the utility of e-government goes well beyond this aspect, it can be a very useful tool for tackling corruption by providing information to citizens and limiting contacts with potentially corrupt bureaucrats. In recent years, Russia took determined steps in this direction with the establishment of a Presidential Council for the Development of an Information Society and the development of a governmental program for 2011-2018. One of the major initiatives in this regard is the creation of a national electronic payment system, which the government set in motion earlier this year. Supporting civil society actions: The Russian authorities support the actions of the Committee for Fighting Corruption, a non-governmental organization which intends to raise civil societys awareness of the causes and dangers of corruption. They also encourage all businesses active in Russia to join the anticorruption pledge signed by many international firms in April 2010.

FIGURES Transparency International ranked Russia No. 154 of 178 in its 2010 Corruption Perception Index. In 2009, it estimated bribe-taking amounted to about $300 billion a year. A total of 4,500 corruption cases were brought to court in the first half of 2009 in Russia, with 532 public officials and 700 law-enforcers being convicted.

 The Russian Federal Prison and Punishment Agency recently announced that 25 corruption-related criminal procedures against high-ranking officials had been launched between summer 2009 and May 2010. According to a joint study recently released by the Russian Academy of Science and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, 49 percent of all Russian citizens regard the fight against corruption as the main goal of Russias modernization program. FURTHER INFORMATION President of the Russian Federation: Pages dedicated to the fight against corruption President of the Russian Federation: Pages dedicated to e-government Federal Ministry of Justice: Pages dedicated to the fight against corruption Research center on opposing corruption from the Russian Academy of Legal Sciences Committee for Fighting Corruption