Veria - Claim Fact Check

Claim: Russian business engages in non-competitive business practices through bribery and corruption of national elites

90%

Based on my research, here is my analysis of the claim that "Russian business engages in non-competitive business practices through bribery and corruption of national elites":

Reasoning:

Transparency International has explicitly stated that "corruption is endemic in Russia" and assigned it the lowest score of any European country in their Corruption Perceptions Index, with Russia scoring 22/100 and ranking 154th of 180 countries in 2024—its worst result since the current scoring system was introduced in 2012¹².
Under Vladimir Putin's regime, Russia has been characterized by experts as a kleptocracy, oligarchy, and plutocracy owing to its crony capitalism economic system where business operations depend on Kremlin approval rather than operating independently³¹.
A U.S. government report documented that 70-80% of private businesses were paying extortion money to organized criminal gangs, and 80% of all U.S. businesses in Russia had bribed a Russian government official at least once⁴.
Academic research estimates that "the corruption component" represents 20-30% of the total cost of doing business in Russia, with experts noting that since the 2010s, corruption in Russia has become a business in itself⁵¹.
The system of "penguin practices"—using personal networks and relationships to secure government orders, contracts, and loans from state-owned banks—is widespread in Russian business culture, with hiring of relatives and close friends being a common tradition⁶.
Russian kleptocracy ensures control of loyal elites while providing the Kremlin with a tool of statecraft internationally, demonstrating the fusion of business and state power through corruption³².

Overall validity: 90%