MOSCOW, June 18 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing whether Russians happened to face policemen (militia) illegal actions, and how often policemen make heroic acts or, vice versa, violate human rights.
The majority of Russians has never witnessed illegal actions made by police officers. The share of such respondents has increased from 2004 (from 47% to 62%). Respondents more rare mention rudeness, tactlessness (18% against 22% in 2004), bribery and extortion (10% against 18%), abuse of power (10% against 17%), brutality (8% against 16%) and other actions among violations of human rights.
Muscovites and St.Petersburgians more often mention rudeness (30%), extortion (21%) abuse of power (13%). The vast majority of rural area citizens report they have never experienced any illegal actions made by law enforcement officers (70% against 49% among metropolitan residents). Men more often report rudeness (21%), extortion (14%) and brutality (10%). On the contrary, women did not witness any illegal activity (66%).
Are illegal actions of police officers exception to the rules or regular activity? Russians tend to think that policemen illegal activity is an exception to the rules rather than constant practice (48% against 33%). The former point of view is mostly shared by residents of North-Western Federal District (56%), Volga District (55%) and Siberia (54%), as well as respondents residing in small and middle cities (52-53%) and those who have positive experience of contacts with police (72%). Those who support the latter, less popular, position are often residents of Central District and Southerners (40% for each), Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (47%), and those who have negative impressions from contacts with police (60%). Only 2% are confident that there are no any illegal actions made by police.
Heroic acts performed by police officers are far from being constant practice. More Russians are confident that heroic acts are exception from the rules rather than constant practice (63% against 11% relatively). The former position is mainly shared by residents North-Western Federal District (73%), Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (72%), as well as those who have negative impressions form contacts with police (72%). Those who are confident of the heroism of police officers are basically Siberians (23%), residents of big and middle cities (16-18%), and Russians with positive impressions from contacts with police (32%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on May 30-31, 2009.
1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.
The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.
Did you happen to witness actions performed by police officers (militia) violated human rights this year? If yes, then what kind of actions? | ||
| 2004 | 2009 |
rudeness, tactlessness | 22 | 18 |
bribery, extortion | 18 | 10 |
abuse of power | 17 | 10 |
brutality | 16 | 8 |
attempts of distortion of facts and falsification of materials | 10 | 7 |
refusal to accept a statement to police | 8 | 4 |
I have witnessed none of illegal actions | 47 | 62 |
other | 2 | 2 |
hard t tell | 8 | 4 |
Did you happen to witness actions performed by police officers (militia) violated human rights this year? If yes, then what kind of actions? | ||||||
| Total respondents | Type of settlement | ||||
Moscow & St.Petersburg | More than 500thousand | 100-500 thousand | Less than 100 | Rural area | ||
rudeness, tactlessness | 18 | 30 | 23 | 12 | 19 | 13 |
bribery, extortion | 10 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 |
abuse of power | 10 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 6 |
brutality | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 |
attempts of distortion of facts and falsification of materials | 7 | 6 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 7 |
refusal to accept a statement to police | 4 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
I have witnessed none of illegal actions | 62 | 49 | 58 | 64 | 63 | 70 |
other | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
hard t tell | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
In your opinion, are policemen illegal actions constant practices or exception from the rules? | ||||
| Total respondents | Impressions from contacts with militia | ||
Positive | Negative | I did not happen to contact with militia | ||
rather constant practice | 33 | 13 | 60 | 30 |
rather exception from the rules | 48 | 72 | 31 | 48 |
it never happens | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
hard to tell | 18 | 12 | 9 | 20 |
In your opinion, are policemen heroic acts constant practices or exception from the rules? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| Total respondents | Impressions from contacts with militia | ||
Positive | Negative | I did not happen to contact with militia | ||
rather constant practice | 14 | 32 | 7 | 13 |
rather exception from the rules | 63 | 55 | 72 | 62 |
it never happens | 6 | 2 | 13 | 5 |
hard to tell | 17 | 11 | 8 | 19 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or www.wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM,
the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!