The trend of registered crimes from 1985 till 2002 is presented in tables 2. 3, 4. The main tendencies are as follows:
• The rate (per 100,000 inhabitants) of registered crime decreased in 1986-1988 (time of Gorbachev's Perestroika), increased from 817 (1987) to 1863 in 1995 and, after a short period (1996-1998), increased to 2051.4 in 1999.
• The rate (per 100,000 inhabitants) of murders (including attempted murders) decreased in 1986-1988 (to 6.3 in 1987), increased from 6.3 in 1987 to 21.8 in 1994 and, after a short time period, went down in 1995-1997, and increased to 22-23 in 2001-2003.
• The dynamic in the rate of others crime is analogous – minimum during Gorbachev's period, increased in 1994-1995, transitory cutting down and increased again in 1998-2003. The process of lowering of the crime rate was due to the „Thaw“ of Khrushchev too.
The rate of violence is very high in Russia. The official rate (per 100,000 populations) of homicide increased from 6.6 in 1987 to 23.1 in 2001, and more than 22 in 2002-2003. By comparison, the rate of homicide on average per year in 1999-2001 was: Australia – 1.9; Austria – 1.2; Finland – 2.8; France – 1.7; Germany – 1.1; Japan – 1.0; Netherlands – 1.5; Norway – 0.9; Poland – 2.0; Spain – 1.1; Sweden – 1.1; USA – 5.6 (Barclay and Tavares, 2003: 10).
The rate of grievous bodily harm increased in Russia from 13.9 in 1987 up to 39.9 in 2003 (45.7 in 1994).
There are many causes of violence in Russia. The main ones are as following:
• The geographical factor. Russia is very large country. Russian people had the power to conquer, establishing their power over larger territories.
• The historical factor, including the Byzantine heritage and the Soviet regime. For example, the Byzantine bishops persuaded Russian Prince Vladimir to put the death penalty into operation.
• The political factor. Russia has never been a democratic state, and never experienced the rule of law. Instead, it has experienced a centuries-long tradition of despotism and totalitarianism. The extent of repressing the people in the Soviet period could be compared with genocide. The Soviet regime killed more 61.9 million people from 1917 to 1987 (Kressel, 1996).
• The economic factor. The Russian people have always been poor. Considerable social and economic inequality always existed in Russia. The constantly growing economic polarization of the contemporary population – visible in the stark contrast between the poor majority and the nouveau rich minority (the «New Russian») – is a long-term source of continuing social conflict, envy, and violence.
• The cultural factor. Historical, political, and economic factors helped form Russian culture and mentality which is repressive and intolerant, with a tradition of violence. Russian proverbs attest to it, and popular tales reflect it.
• The juridical factor. Contemporary criminal legislation and practice of the police, the judiciary, and prisons are very strict and repressive, including use of mass torture. Violence gives rise to more violence.
Table 1. Detection of Crime (in %) in Russia (1992-2003)
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Source: Crime and Delinquency. Statistical Review. Annual. Moscow: MVD RF, MJ RF; State of Crime in Russia. Annual. Moscow: MVD RF.
Table 2. Dynamic of the rates (per 100 000 inhabitants) of General Crime in Russia (1985-2003)
Source: Crime and Delinquency. Statistical Review. Annual. Moscow: MVD RF, MJ RF; State of Crime in Russia. Annual. Moscow: MVD RF.
Table 3. Rate (per 100 000 inhabitants) of Serious Violent Crimes in Russia (1985-2003)
Source: Crime and Delinquency. Statistical Review. Annual. Moscow: MVD RF, MJ RF; State of Crime in Russia. Annual. Moscow: MVD RF.
Table 4. Rate (per 100 000 inhabitants) of Crimes Against Property in Russia (1985-2003)
Source: Crime and Delinquency. Statistical Review. Annual. Moscow: MVD RF, MJ RF; State of Crime in Russia. Annual. Moscow: MVD RF.
Drug abuse
The real situation of drug use and drug addicts is not known. The official data of drug-related crime is presented in tables 5. We can see that this rate increased from 8.6 in 1988 up to 167.3 in 2000 and decreased to 126.9 in 2003.
The official rate of drug and heavy substance users in Russia increased from 25.7 in 1985 up to 195.7 in 1998. The official rate of drug addicts increased from 1.3 in 1980 to 31.0 in 1997 (Human Development Report in the Russian Federation, 1999: 69). Most of offenders of drug-related crime (80-90 %) were convicted for actions without intention to sell (table 6). Consequently, the «war on drugs» is a «war on drugs users»… The Russian drug police is ineffective and there is extensive drug trafficking (Gilinskiy, Zazulin, 2001; Paoli, 2001).
Organized crime
There are too many definitions of organized crime (Abadinsky, 1994; Alba-nese, 1995; Arlacchi, 1986; and others). We will use the definition of organized crime as the functioning of stable, hierarchical associations, engaged in crime as a form of business, and setting up a system of protection against public control by means of corruption.
Organized crime is not only sum of criminal organizations. It is a complicated social phenomenon, which has an influence on the economy and the policy of states. The growth of the organizational aspect of crime is a natural, objective process; it is a manifestation of the growth of the organizational aspect of the social systems as well as of the sub-systems (the economy, politics, etc.). It is a global, world wide process.
