Moscow
Less than one-third of Russians believe that hard work can lead to wealth, a new poll shows. Asked to choose the most reliable ways to get rich, 45 percent of Russians cited “having influential connections.” Hard work came in at 32 percent, just ahead of embezzlement, graft, and stealing, advocated by 30 percent. The elderly are the most jaded. Among those over 60, stealing was the top-ranked path to wealth. “It is civil servants who are greatly to blame for this,” said anti-corruption activist Yelena Panfilova. “It is through their efforts that civil service in the eyes of the public at large is nothing but a highly profitable business.”
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