Only 1 in 10 corrupt officials end up in prison

The ED analyzed almost 5 thousand sentences handed down in 2022-2023 for economic and corruption crimes and embezzlement of property. The average chance of ending up behind bars in these cases is 9%.

From time to time, law enforcement officers report on exposing illegal manufacturers of excisable products, checking undeclared assets of officials, and detaining bribe-takers. However, what are the chances that these cases will result in fair verdicts in court?

When it comes to robbery, robbery or theft, not to mention more serious crimes, in 80-90% of cases the defendants are found guilty and go to jail.

However, the fundamental principle of the criminal process - the inevitability of punishment - disappears when it comes to white collar crimes: corruption, financial fraud, economic crimes (excise duties, counterfeiting).

The ED analyzed sentences over the past two years under 15 articles of the Criminal Code. Their common feature is that justice under these articles is carried out mainly nominally through the approval of a “plea agreement”. This provision is contained in Chapter 35 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Over the past two years, this has happened in 43% of all cases, which in turn in 87% of cases lead to a fine as the main punishment.