RUSSIANS ACCUSE STATE OFFICIALS OF HINDRANCE OF REFORMS

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<tit>RUSSIANS ACCUSE STATE OFFICIALS OF HINDRANCE OF REFORMS
One-third of Russians (33%) consider resistance of state officials and bureaucracy the main obstacles in the path of efficient economic reforms in the country. Participants of the poll held at the end of 2005, by the analytical center of Yury Levada also think that reforms of Russia's economy are hindered by weakness of authorities at all levels, absence of a well-considered programs of transformations (28% each) and unwillingness of local officials to observe the laws (26%).

Among the other reasons hindering efficient reforms in Russia respondents also mentioned economic incompetence of officials (26%), peculiarity of mentality of Russians that according to respondents "forgot how to work" (20%) and lack of interest of the citizens in transition to the market (19%). Only 7% of 1,600 respondents say that they do not see any obstacles in the path of economic reforms in Russia.

According to a half of respondents (51%), growth in prices and impoverishment of broad groups of the population remain the main threats for the country. Growth of crime was placed by 35% of respondents in the second place among the current problems of the country and 34% of respondents placed growth of unemployment in the third place.

The poll of Levada center shows that about one-third of respondents (29%) are afraid of looting of national wealth by foreigners, one-fourth (25%) is afraid of its devastation and 17% point at growing dependence of Russia on the West. Among other threats to Russia respondents also mention breakup of the country as an integrated state (15%), weakness of state power (13%), re-division of property (5%) and limitation of civil rights and liberties.
<ref>polit.ru, January 16, 2006

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