MOSCOW, April 04, 2008Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents information on whether Russians consider the court to be an effective means of protection for the rights of citizens and what they assume stands in the way of the courts and prevents them from working with the citizens’ appeals more effectively.The main source of information as far as the work of courts is concerned is central television, as 42% of respondents identify. Other sources mentioned are communicating with friends, relatives, acquaintances (26%); local television (23%), local media (19%). The smallest group of respondents (9-10% for each option) turn to the national press in their search of information on the work of courts or make use of the grapevine (at shops, markets and means of public transportation, etc.).9% speak of having personal experience of applying to court as the main information source on its work, whereas 5% of respondents had to deal with the judicial system due to an exigency of business or profession.Opinions of Russians concerning efficiency of court in the matters of protecting the rights of citizens spread into nearly equal parts: 36% of respondents indicate that the court is an effective means of protecting their rights, and 38% adhere to the opposite point of view. Every fourth respondent (23%) finds it hard to provide an estimationas far as this issue is concerned.The opinion that courts effectively protect the rights of citizens prevails in villages (42% versus 33%); however, in large industrial centres and especially in Moscow and St. Petersburg the point of view that courts are relatively inefficient is more widespread.31% of Russians mention lack of conscientiousness and bribe-taking of judges among the problems and reasons which prevent the courts from working more effectively. The second in the list of problems, but still lagging far behind the first one is pressure exercised by the authorities, as 23% of respondents identify. Another 19% of respondents associate the inefficient work of courts with imperfections in the legislation. Just as many respondents (19%) assume that is has to do with the high workload in courts. Russians are a little bit less often inclined to see the reasons of inefficient work of courts in influence of the criminal underground (13%) and pressure exercised by the business (11%). A still smaller share of respondents (7% for each option) mentions the negative role of the organizational and technical factors, i.e. insufficient number of judges, insufficient material and technical base, low level of financing of the judicial system.The initiative All-Russia opinion poll was conducted by VCIOM on November 3-4, 2008. 1600 respondents were interviewed each time in 153 population areas of 46 regions of Russia. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4%.