Law-enforcement authorities told Kommersant that the comparative analysis was based on safety data from London, New York, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, Tokyo, and several others. Moscow was rated by international police standards: crimes by type per 100 thousand citizens.

Experts said that comparative assessment was hindered by "differences in fiscal reporting and legislative norms regulating investigation, law enforcement and prevention of various offenses in different countries". For example, experts mentioned Russia’s distinct separation of criminal offense and misdemeanor, however many EU countries and a number of others have no such differentiation. Besides, even within one country, for example the USA, criminal law in various states differs greatly in criminal offense types and severity of punishment.

The study showed that Moscow is on par with New York, London, Berlin, Madrid, Rome, Seoul, and is even leading in certain aspects. Interestingly, in many of these cities the total amount of crime has reduced in the previous year (in Moscow by 12%).

In particular, robberies and assaults related to robbery (18.001 per 100 thousand citizens in the previous year) take place in the Russian capital twice less frequently than in New York (36.442) or London (35.850). The picture is the same for sex crimes: in the Russian capital, 844 crimes were committed per 100 thousand citizens, in New York – 1.373, in Berlin – 2.777, in Madrid – 1.072. Also, the level of attempted vehicle theft and drug trafficking is lower in the Russian capital than in many other cities. During the previous year, there were 10.944 drug crimes per 100 thousand citizens, in Moscow, in New York – 22.913, in Berlin – 11.546.

Moscow has higher levels of fraud with the use of forged documents than other financial centres (20.509 compared to 10.055 in New York or 5.132 in Hong Kong). Finally, the amount of homicides per 100 thousand citizens in Moscow is about the same as in New York (about 500).

"No wonder Moscow shows such results", says ex-Head of the Russian Interpol office Vladimir Ovchinsky. "It has been this way all along: law-enforcement agencies are all concentrated in Moscow, they are better equipped. But it is important to keep in mind the disturbing tendencies that we must curb. First of all, the rise in migrant crime. That`s why I support the call for the revival of ethnic crime units. Also it is necessary to consider that financial centres have always attracted organized crime leaders. Generally, I do not see any obstacles for foreign capital attraction to Moscow. Consider the recent riots in London, last year’s clashes with the police on Manezhnaya Sq. is child’s play by comparison. There are neighborhoods in Washington where police do not recommend to go at night. There are no such areas in Moscow right now".

"Police measures are not enough to make Moscow attractive", says Mikhail Fedotov, Head of Human Rights and Open Society Presidential Council. "The city has a potential to become an international financial centre. But it is important that everyone is willing to put in a joint effort to establish a financial centre: the authorities, the Russian business and the Moscovites. You can’t attract a financier to city, if there is a bad attitude towards him. It is necessary to improve life conditions, people should be comfortable here".

Project Group №5