Corruption is Widespread for Most Russians

Many people in Russia hold negative views on the behaviour of their government officials, according to a poll by the Yury Levada Analytical Center. 29 per cent of respondents say practically every official is corrupt, while 47 per cent think the majority of them are, up four points since July 2007. Vladimir Putin was elected to a second term as president in March 2004 with 71.31 per cent of all cast ballots. In April 2005, Putin ruled out seeking a new mandate, saying, "I will not change the constitution and in line with the constitution, you cannot run for president three times in a row." In November 2003, Putin authorized the establishment of an anti-corruption committee. The crackdown on illegal activity began in October 2003, when Mikhail Khodorkovsky­head of oil corporation YUKOS­was arrested on tax evasion and fraud... [read full story]