Moscow, December 03, 2007 Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information on how Russians estimate the overall performance of the domestic judicial system. The data was received in the course of research carried out by VCIOM upon request of the Public chamber of the Russian Federation.

Nearly half of respondents (45%) find it hard to provide an estimation of the work of courts. The responses that were given were equally distributed between positive and negative (+26%, -28%). The higher the educational level of respondents was, the more they are inclined to provide negative estimations; thus, 28% in the group of respondents with higher and incomplete higher education estimate the work of courts positively, whereas 35% give them a negative estimation.

In the mass consciousness of the majority of respondents the Russian legal proceedings are perceived to be rather fair. Thus, more than half of respondents (54%) are to some extent sure, that a common person, when addressing the court, can count on an equitable solution of the case. However, no more than 8% of Russians thoroughly believe it, whereas the relative majority of respondents (46%) are inclined to give more cautious answers. One third of respondents (34%) are more likely to perceive the modern Russian court as unfair in relation to the common citizen. This includes 11% of them who adhere to extremely negative estimations. Respondents up to 45 years old are the ones to treat the matter with most optimism.

The share of those who consider the court to be an effective means to protect the rights of citizens and the share of those who adhere to the opposite point of view, are approximately equal - 36% versus 38%. The share of those who found it hard to define their point of view on the matter (23%) was rather high as well. The positive mood prevails in the group of respondents up to 35 years of age; the opinions of respondents belonging to the age group of 35-44 years fell into two nearly equal parts, whereas respondents of 45 years of age and older are more likely to estimate the overall performance of courts negatively.

When defining the basic problems and the reasons which prevent the effective work of the courts, 31% of Russians name dishonesty and corruptness of judges as the basic ones that lead this hierarchy of its kind. This is followed by pressure exercised by the authorities (23%). Another 19% of respondents associate the inefficient work of courts with flaws in the legislation. Just as many respondents (19%) associate it with big workload that the courts need to face. A little less often Russians are inclined to see the reasons for inefficient work of courts in the influence of the underworld (13%) and pressure exercised by business structures (11%). Organizationally-technical factors, such as lack of judges, insufficient material base, low level of financing of the judicial system affect the overall performance of courts essentially less often, at least according to the results of the survey. No more than 7% of respondents remembered and mentioned each of these reasons.

The all-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on November 3-4, 2007. 1600 respondents were interviewed in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.