Primorye is one of the Most Corrupt Regions in Russia’s Far East

VLADIVOSTOK. March 1. VOSTOK-MEDIA – A recent survey conducted by the Center for Studies of New Challenges and Threats to National Security revealed that Primorsky Krai is one of the most corrupt regions in the Russian Far East.

Aleksandr Sukharenko, director of the Center for Studies of New Challenges and Threats to National Security, said during the period from 2000 to 2008, crime rate in the Russian Far East has increased almost twofold.

 “Corrupt practices became widespread mainly in the sphere of property management, spending of budgetary funds, and discharge of requisite powers of control. A large number of violations are committed when setting and execution of budgets at different levels,” Aleksandr Sukharenko said.

He added that in 2009 the situation has not improved. “For eleven months of 2009, prosecution authorities detected more than 3,000 violations of laws or regulations concerning corruption in public and municipal service. As a result 380 public officers were brought to disciplinary responsibility, 75 – to administrative responsibility. In addition, the Public Prosecutor’s Office initiated 60 criminal cases,” Sukharenko said.