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§ 3. Struggle against bribery in the Russian state at Catherine II.

In Catherine II board the most steadfast attention to struggle against mercenary abusings on service, including with bribery was paid. Literally since first days of the accession to the throne the empress has defined a leading direction of the future policy: “...

Our main care will find all means to the justice statement in the people.” [171]

Catherine the Great made to itself “for a debt immutable and indispensable” to declare in the people to what degree has increased lihoimstvo in the state where “sometimes the beggar do rich, and rich with the beggar.” [172]

The Nominal decree from July, 18th, 1762 “About deduction of judges and officials from lihoimstva” became one of the first acts signed by Catherine II. This decree as well as possible shows the basic changes in the politician of the Russian state in the field of struggle against bribes.

Catherine I has been shaken by that for reception of bribes her name can be used gradually even. So, the registrar of the Novgorod provincial office Jacob Renber has been convicted that, leading to an oath of allegiance to the empress of simple people, “took and for that from everyone to itself money who swore”. Catherine II has been revolted by this fact, and Renbera have banished on a hard labour and eternal life to Siberia. Catherine II has underlined, that such punishment has followed “on uniform only still To ours maternemu to mercy; for it for such awful though malokorystnoe, crime, be justly deprived should a stomach.” [173]
Despite all taken measures, in 1764 the similar case concerning collegiate assesora and bureaucrat Bocherova [174] became known.

Nevertheless, the general orientation of policy Catherine II in this sphere was humane. As specified itself pravitelnitsa, its strong hope on the God “and natural magnanimity” its hopes did not deprive that many will feel “some accusation” in the conscience. In the same decree Catherine II urged not to deny on court “former an act if it has been infected by them.” But again it was underlined, that if “in their hearts fossilized and infected I sow pagubnoju strastiju”, the shame and repentance mercy displays any more will not be will not move and convicted in lihoimstve the severe penalty since at the introduction on a throne the empress promised “favour and court to the God and the people” will wait. [175]

The next proof of turn in the state Policy of Law in second half XVIII centuries was the amnesty granted in honour of coronation of the empress. In this case the Manifesto from September, 22nd, 1762 According to positions of this certificate has been published the fault “prilichivshimsja in lihoimstve, bribes and robberies, on July, 18th” [176] 1762 was released. Differently, the bribery which was taking place till 1762 did not attract any legal responsibility for the guilty.

Considering a similar orientation of actions of the government concerning bribe takers, do not cause surprise and the basic state measures on struggle against the bribes, spent by Catherine II - increase of the salary to officials and the personnel selection having for an object filling of offices by worthy people. These actions, instead of tortures, executions and a confiscation, according to the empress, should bring notable results.

Wishing to improve financial condition of officials, Ekatrinoj II the decree from February, 13th, 1763 [177] in which the norms increasing the sums contained, received by officials for the service has been published.

Positions about the worthy maintenance of officials developed and in other decrees since not receiving the salary, officials “forcedly for the livelihood in a crime enter” [178].

On states of 1763 the annual salary of the writing attendant (kopiista) constituted: 30 rbl. in district and 60 rbl. in provincial establishments, 100-150 rbl. in the central and higher establishments. At the low prices for a foodstuff and first of all on the bread costing of 10-15 copeck for pood [179], such salary was not beggarly. That new salaries really provided modest, but fair existence, contemporaries in the memoirs repeatedly mentioned. The higher ranks heading the central and local managements, have been approached to a throne and, besides monetary salaries, generously awarded by the earth and serfs, that in any measure prevented large abusings.

According to JU.V.Gaultier, it is necessary "to do justice Catherine II to diligence": in the reign beginning its employees "tried to ennoble moral level of administration not only a bait of the raised salaries or threat of severe punishments to disobedient persons of laws; they aspired to instal in them more raised representation about to themselves, about their problems and duties" [180].

However the basic problem in eradication of bribes Catherine II put qualitative change official cases by attraction on service of people fair, formed and worthy [181]. Positions of these
Certificates had basically recommendatory character. For example, in the decree from May, 28th, 1781 it is spoken about necessity “to the Adviser of customs affairs to supervise, that people serviceable and besporochnye” [182] here have been used.

The special attention is deserved by the Manifesto from December, 15th, 1763. Mentioning application in the past of strict punishments for bribe takers, Catherine II comes to conclusion about an inefficiency of the given measures. The empress has seen the reasons of it that to affairs people uneducated and incapable were defined, and also that employees have been deprived any salary.

The empress came to extreme irritation, receiving new data that the most various ways of deception of inhabitants and thus reception from them livelihood and pribytkov were invented. Many officials similar abusings acquired the big conditions, subjecting the population to an extreme exhaustion [183].

Tаким in the image to eradicate “the mentioned  destruction” Catherine II has decided “all Forums to fill worthy in knowledge and fair people” and to allocate with their sufficient salary. However, at all humanity of a spent policy, was as well application possibility to guilty the most strict measures, up to a death penalty. Tе who “prezrja those to itself(himself) shchedroty” [184], all the same continued to be engaged lihoimstvom to take a bribe and to accept various gifts, utesnjaja applicants, risked own head.

As a whole Ekaterina specified in a duty of all without an exception of officials of business about lihoimstve to consider not simply important, but
Destroying a political system, dispatching in considerable quantities

188 corresponding instructions and reminders.

As we see, Catherine II many decrees in sphere of struggle against bribes mattered admonitions and have been urged to influence minds and hearts of officials. This political line has been planned in the beginning of board of Catherine II by the decree from February, 17th, 1763 “About the reference vpadshih in crimes, it is more admonition, rather than strogostiju, and about neproizvozhdenii than tortures in pripisnyh cities” [185 [186] [187]. In the Charter blagochinija, or the policeman from April, 8th 1782г. Prohibition “all contained and to everyone in a city” to take a bribe under the threat of punishment: “Bude who to repair lihoimstvo

190

Or bribes, that to send to Court ”.

As the further practice has shown, admonitions of the purpose reached far not always. The bribery at gathering the recruit which had the big prevalence in board of predecessors of Ekaterina, remains on the scales at former level. Therefore in 1766 publication of General establishment “About gathering in the State the recruit and about usages what at sets should execute as well about penalties and punishments who, both in reception, and in return neistinoju will arrive has followed.” [188 [189]

At epidemic morovoj ulcers (plague) have been published the Manifesto from September, 9th, 1771 which testified that while translating the ill people on quarantine cases every possible were frequent

192 briberies and lihoimstva.

The big problem was represented by bribery at mezhevanii the earths. Though in 1775 the decree “About immediate consideration and the decision of affairs under the complaints entering on Land surveyors in has been published
Their dishonourable acts ”[190], but as it is visible, it has appeared inefficient. In Official reports Pravitelstvujushchego of the Senate from October, 21st, 1779 numerous cases of acceptance of bribes have been fixed at mezhevanii the earths. For example, land surveyor Zaharov was convicted of Kostroma that demanded to itself a table,“ that is harch and drinks, to that on bribes by a varnish, and to mezhevaniju neuserden, and at mezhevanii with attorneys and rabotnymi people manages severely and fights brutally ”. At investigation it was found out, that in the first working day the land surveyor“ has interrupted rabotnyh people the person to 15 ”, than has forced“ podnest to it imperial, canvases and other ”. In the general complexity“ during time mezhevanja it is brought to it Zaharovu 100 roubles, yes to the assistant to 20 roubles, and on its maintenance Zaharova with people 85 roubles are expended; and for klejmenie columns take from everyone on 3 copecks. ” [191] From collegiate adviser Arsenyev during same time the complaint to certain land surveyor Chagina which in Galitsky district did not begin mezhevat has arrived, extorting thus bribes at peasants.

In Catherine II board a number of especially large affairs about bribes have been made public and have received a wide public resonance. In its reign the high-ranking government officials of a provincial link have been involved in the criminal liability. Among them Kaluga voevoda Mjasoedov, the Smolensk governor Arshevsky, Voronezh governor Pushkin which have been condemned for bribery [192].

In 1766 Catherine II has made decision to publish all results of impeachment for bribery for general data. For the purpose of promulgation and finishing to general data
Results of struggle against bribe takers the corresponding certificate - the Nominal decree given to the Senate from November, 11th, 1766 has been published. [193 [194]

However, the policy in sphere of struggle against bribes was very inconsistent. Diligence pravitelnitsy among officials of the lowest and the middle class really made certain success in bridling of embezzlement of public funds and bribery. However in the higher circles “at Catherine the Great the bribery accepts even more loose and impetuous character, more closely growing together with sistemoju favoritizma various gigolos

197 power ”.

For example, “from bankruptcy of banker Suterljanda the treasury has lost over 2 millions roubles. Catherine II has enjoined to hold a consequence and here here - that was found out, that money was are taken from it by the persons surrounding the empress, - kn. Potyomkin, kn. Vjazemsky, kn. Bezbordko, vitseyokantslerom Ostermanom and even is great. kn. Paul Petrovichem. From these persons only gr. Bezbordkos have agreed to return money, and the others have easy declared, that they will not return money or will return, when will be superfluous. Suterljand has poisoned. Business has decayed.” [195] as we see more low, behind struggle against bribery and embezzlement of public funds at Catherine II the firm aspiration to hide and protect bribery as soon as it mentioned its favourite system favoritizma was shown.

The bribe takers which have thus got to disgrace, the government did not give quarter. Owing to confiscation were rozdany the riches government kn. Golitsyn, kn. Khovansky, kn. Gagarin, baron Shafirova, gr. ' Golstogo, kn. Menshikov, kn. Dolgorukov etc. “All political favourites the government showered with a favour shower of gold. At Catherine II Orlovy receive as a gift 45.000 peasants, Zubovu give whole two
District, kn. Vjazemsky 23.000 serf showers are awarded. In general at Ekaterina was rozdano to private persons of 800.000 country showers. ”[196 [197].

Really, as it is visible, the Russian bribery has substantially grown because of distribution of material benefits for political prisluzhnichestvo and reliability. And in it one of principal causes of survivability of the Russian bribery.

Struggle against bribes at the bottom levels of the power and their encouragement on the higher floors reduced efficiency of all spent measures. "The bribe on - the former becomes necessary, - historian N.D.Chechulin, - the fair secretary when that meets wrote bytopisatel lives of Russian society of second half XVIII century, it seems an unusual occurrence, nearly

200 by miracle ".

Throughout all XVIII century the policy of the Russian state varied, and the relation to bribery and lihoimstvu in the governmental circles of Russia changed. In XVIII century the government to reception by civil employees of "mercenary" incomes became much less tolerant, than was before. Have been undertaken a number of unprecedented measures on the value both in legislative, and in organizational spheres. Many of these steps have crowned success, but many have appeared far not so are effective, predictably. Unfortunately, the bribery problem in Russian empire and has not been up to the end solved. The bribe became for a long time the ordinary of a then life. Throughout all XVIII century “the landowner to receive annual holiday from a regiment, bribed the secretary-on 12 nice fellows of peasants, to the clerk - on one soul; to win 900 showers, gives to the secretary of Patrimonial board a manor with 50
Souls. ”201. Thus, the bribery has got for a long time character of long chronic illness of a society.

But anyway, it is necessary to establish, that the Russian government has managed to refuse the idea of acceptance of private compensations on service. In it an indisputable merit of reformers of XVIII century.

201

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A source: Bychkova Svetlana Borisovna. state-LEGAL MEASURES of COUNTERACTION to BRIBERY In Russia (XV - the BEGINNING of XX CENTURIES). The DISSERTATION on competition of a scientific degree of the master of laws. Nizhni Novgorod - 2015. 2015

More on topic § 3. Struggle against bribery in the Russian state at Catherine II.:

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  2. § 4. Is standard-legal fastening of struggle against bribery on a boundary of the XIX-XX-th centuries.
  3. CHAPTER 1. Historical preconditions of counteraction to bribery in the Russian state in XV-XVII centuries
  4. Ways of perfection of possibilities of law enforcement bodies to struggle against bribery against application OPM
  5. CHAPTER 3. State-legal measures of counteraction to bribery in Russian empire in XIX - the beginning of XX centuries
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  8. institute of legal responsibility of civil servants of civil department as a conceptual basis of struggle against bribery and lihoimstvom on public service
  9. § 2. The state actions in sphere of counteraction to bribery in the second quarter of XVIII century
  10. CHAPTER 2. It is state-legal mechanism counteractions to bribery in XVIII century
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