Fighting against Corruption, and Struggling for Status

Anti-corruption efforts have gained new impetus through more determined governmental commitment in Russia in 2006. We have seen anti-corruption measures ranging from traditional high-level arrests, the ratification of the United Nations (UN) and Council of Europe (CoE) Conventions on corruption, increased collaborative engagement with international efforts, as well as intensified activities by the Duma Anti-Corruption Commission and provision of support, resources, and contact points for civic involvement in the anti-corruption field. But, as in the early 2000s, it is too soon to be content with these actions. Moreover, since the relations and financial flows between foreign donors and Russian non-governmental organizations have become subject to state control, new tensions have arisen at the intersection of international and domestic efforts. These include struggles over who gets the most recognition for initiating measures in this field and providing information on corruption in Russia. While such cleavages are most pronounced in Moscow, they should not be ignored in cross-regional and international collaboration.