Enforcement of intellectual property rights is lagging. Corruption, regulations, vague commercial laws, and bureaucratic obstacles impede private business, and organized crime, which includes murder and extortion, is rampant. In 1997, a new internal passport system dropped a nationality listing. The propiska system that controls residency and movement is still widely in force. Citizens must register to live and work in a specific area within seven days of moving there.
Women enjoy equal protection under law and are well represented in education and government.
But domestic violence, discrimination, and societal norms remain serious problems.