Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

MOSCOW, April 14, 2009. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data on anti-corruption initiative of the President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev to require officials to declare their and their families` incomes: is this measure effective and whose declaration would Russians like to see?

n general Russians are well aware of the new anti-corruption initiative of the President Dmitry Medvedev: 43% of respondents say that they "heard something" about the presidential initiative requiring officials  and members of their families to declare their incomes, 33% say that they are "well informed" about it. 23% of respondents report they know nothing about it. Most of those who are more or less aware of the initiative of the president are metropolitan residents (85%) and supporters of the party "Fair Russia" (91%).

 

Almost every third (31%) consider Medvedev`s anti-corruption measure to be "good, long overdue anti-corruption measure". Those who have such point of view are mainly rural area residents (38%), as well as supporters of such parties as "United Russia" (35%), "Fair Russia" (34%) and representatives of Democrats electorate (33%). 26% of Russians think that this is a good measure, but Russians officials can circumvent it: small cities residents (29%) and "Fair Russia" party supporters (36%) tend to think so. 18% of Russians consider that this presidential initiative is a step in the right direction, but we should search for more effective ways to fight corruption: this stance is often shared by average cities` residents (24%) and those who support Democrats (25%). And finally, 15% of respondents regard Medvedev`s measure to be "populist step that will not bring real results":   Basically Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (25%) tend to think so, as well as CPRF and LDPR party adherents (20% for each).

 

The key argument of respondents who are skeptical about the effectiveness of this Presidential initiative is: insufficient rigidity of Russian laws and numerous "loopholes' in them" (17%). Those who think that this measure will not bring positive results because there is no equality of people before the Law and those who think so because state officials will not provide trustworthy information about their earnings are 2% for each group. 5% of Russians think that fighting against corruption is useless.  3% express the opinion that the main reason for ineffectiveness of this measure is that corrupt officials themselves will oppose it; the same share of Russians does not believe that the anti-corruption idea of the President will come into being. 2% of respondents are confident that state officials will easily circumvent this measure; 1% declares that such experience has already taken place and did not bring any results. More than half of Russians were undecided (51%).

 

Every tenth of (11%) consider that more severe punishment should be introduced to tackle graft. There are also such propositions as to provide greater control more control over the work of state servants (8%),  replace the authorities and to reduce the length of tenure, as well as to make the Law equal for everybody and punishment - inevitable (6% for each). Those respondents who think it necessary to quit bribing and strengthen public control as well as to increase sentence for bribery crimes are 3% for each group. Supporters of tough measures propose to introduce death penalty, repressions, and confiscation of property (2% for each group).  Rarer our respondents offer to increase officials salaries or to foster youth intolerance to corruption to tackle the problem (1% for each). 59% were undecided.

 

Most of Russians would like to look inside the declarations of income of Vladimir Putin (8%) and Vladimir Zhirinovsky (7%). 5% are interested in all other officials` declarations; 3% - in the declarations of their local authorities` representatives. Those who would like to know about the information of income of Yury Luzhkov, Gennady Zyuganov, and State Duma deputies and Government officials are 2% for each group. Russians who would like to see the declarations of Dmitry Medvedev, Valentina Matvienko, Roman Abramovich, Boris Grizlov and Sergey Mironov, as well as oligarchs` income declarations are 1% for each. Meanwhile, more than half of Russians (52%) report they are not interested in other people's income.

 

The initiative Russian opinion poll was conducted on April 4 and 5, 2009. 

1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia.

The margin of error does not exceed 3.4%.

 

Due to Dmitry Medvedev's initiative all state officials are required to declare their and their family's income beginning this year. Have you heard about it?
(close-ended question, one answer)

 

Total respondents

Type of settlement

Moscow & St.Petersburg

More than 500thousand

100-500thousand

Less than  100

Rural area

Yes, I am well informed about it

33

31

32

43

32

27

I have heard something about it, but I do not know for sure

43

54

41

33

45

46

I do not know anything about it

23

16

24

25

21

26

Hard to tell

1

0

3

0

1

1

How would you assess the initiative of the president?

(close-ended question, one answer)

 

Total respondents

Political parties supporters

"United Russia"

CPRF

LDPR

"Fair Russia"

Democrats("Pravoe Delo" +Yabloko)

Good, long overdue anti-corruption measure

31

35

29

28

34

33

This is a step in the right direction, but we should search for more effective ways to fight corruption

18

19

16

21

16

25

Good measure, but Russians officials will find ways to circumvent it

26

24

26

24

36

25

It looks like a populist measure which will not bring real results

15

10

20

20

7

8

Hard to tell

10

11

9

7

7

8

If you think that public servants` income declaration will not help to fight corruption,

then could you tell why?

 (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who do not believe in the positive impact of the presidential initiative)

Our laws are not tough enough, there are numerous "loopholes" in them

17

People are not equal before the Law; even if someone is caught taking bribes, he will find a way out of this situation

9

No one will give trustworthy information

9

It is useless to combat corruption

5

Those who will fight corruption will be corrupt officials

3

I do not believe that this idea will come true, it is populism

3

Public servants will easily circumvent this measure

2

There have already been such experience, it did not give any positive results 

1

Other

1

Hard to tell

51

In your opinion, what else should be done to fight corruption in all public bodies more effectively? (open-ended question, any number of answers)

Grafters should be punished more severely

11

To provide tough control over the work of officials

8

To replace state servants, to reduce the length of their tenure

6

To make the law equal for everybody and the punishment - inevitable

6

To quit bribing, to strengthen public control

3

To send grafters to prison, to increase sentences

3

To introduce death penalty, repressions (as in Stalin`s times)

2

Property confiscation

2

To increase officials` salaries so that they would not bribe

1

To foster youth intolerance towards corruption

1

Nothing will help

2

Other

1

Hard to tell

59

The declaration of the president Dmitry Medvedev and his wife will be published soon in the Internet. Whose else declarations would you like to see?

 (open-ended question, any number of answers)

Putin

8

Zhirinovsky

7

All officials, politicians, Deputies, ministers

5

Local authorities` representatives, local officials

3

Luzhkov

2

Zyuganov

2

State Duma, Deputies, Government

2

Medvedev

1

Matvienko

1

Oligarchs

1

Abramovich

1

Grizlov

1

Mironov

1

No one` declaration, I am not interested in it

52

Other

4

Hard to tell

17

 

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!

 

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Topics:
Corruption