No, not really.

People just don't know the Eastern Bloc all that well. It is shady as the OP says. It's a mentality and a way of life that the more polite-class citizens of those countries there are trying to unwind and return to some bastion of civility, but it's hard when the modern-day mafia runs the governments and does it's best to stay in power.

At least here, the corruption isn't as obvious. Over there, they wag their tail right in your face and ask you what are you going to do about it.

People emigrate from these countries to say, North America or Western Europe or UK in search of a better life.