If one were to answer the question "What is happening in Russia?" with a single word, the answer could only be "theft."
—— Nikolai Karamzin
Before coming to Russia to experience firsthand the customs and traditions of this vast country, I had read more than once about the corruption and arrogance of its governmental institutions and bureaucrats. However, for such a large nation, classifying officials simply as good or bad inevitably leads to a skewed understanding of their character and demeanor.
Based on my observations, in terms of personality and temperament alone, Russian officials are not much different from those in other countries. Among them are those who are kind-hearted and gentle, as well as those who are rude, fierce, and brutal.
