A decade of events marking International Anti-Corruption Day kicked off at Volga Region University. Today, undergraduate and college students attended a lecture entitled "Preventing Corruption Offenses from Theory to Practice," delivered by Sergey Druzhkov, Director of the International Institute of Hotel Management and Tourism, and Artur Sakaev, Associate Professor of the Department of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Before the event, Natalia Grechannikova, Vice Rector for Administrative Work, Social Development, and Youth Policy, greeted the students. She led a brief interactive session, asking the audience about the reasons for the lecture.
"On December 9, 2003, the United Nations Convention against Corruption was opened for signature. Therefore, in anticipation of this date, we are trying to remind you once again of the manifestations of corruption that can occur in the university environment and in our everyday lives.
Today, we especially wanted to gather the class monitors here, as they are the link between the faculty and students. We rely on you and count on you to further communicate our anti-corruption policy to your student groups. You will be addressed by two wonderful lecturers, whom I greatly value and respect. They have tremendous experience, not only theoretical but also practical," Natalia Grechannikova emphasized, addressing the students.
Sergey Druzhkov introduced the audience to the theoretical foundations. Together with the students, he analyzed the concepts of spirituality, moral, and material values. Moving on to modern anti-corruption legislation, he drew attention to the attitude toward corruption in religious scriptures, emphasizing that this problem was relevant even before the common era.
Furthermore, Sergey Druzhkov highlighted the causes of corruption in society, characterized the participants in corrupt relationships, and their motivations. He also examined the forms of corruption—everyday and business—which, according to him, can permeate all social strata. In conclusion, the speaker provided examples of anti-corruption principles applied in various countries.
Artur Sakayev is not only an associate professor at the university but also a federal judge whose professional practice has included cases of corruption crimes. In his presentation, he analyzed current statistics from the Prosecutor General's Office and presented data for 2024 and the first quarter of 2025, reflecting the country's fight against corruption.
The expert provided a detailed analysis of articles of the Russian Criminal Code, as well as the Volga Region University's local anti-corruption act. Particular emphasis was placed on mechanisms for preventing and minimizing corruption risks in the educational environment. Artur Sakayev also recounted real-life cases of corruption, warning students of the potential consequences.
"I've been working at Volga Region University for three years now, and I don't see any corruption risks because the administration has built a system that doesn't allow for bribery. The university is unique—we're proud to work here and to build the potential our country needs in these challenging times," Artur Sakayev emphasized, concluding his lecture.
Text: Adelina Khramova
Photo: Alina Gilmullina
