I can't speak for Russia and "*stans", but this is patently untrue for the Czech Republic (where I come from). Obviously it may depend on the particular instit

I can't speak for Russia and "*stans", but this is patently untrue for the Czech Republic (where I come from). Obviously it may depend on the particular institution -- with new, for-profit, private universities (milking rich foreigners who've come to Prague for the beer and fun) having much worse reputation than the public venerable ones like the Charles University (est. 1348). Saying students are "expected" to plagiarise is simply insulting.