Will corruption change the game?

[mendeleyev]

First off, I apologize if this has been posted on the forum previously.

Just when it seemed that Russian corruption was a non-starter in Russia (my confidant and Russian historian Vasily calls them "Robbers of Robbers"), opposition figure Alexi Navalny and a group of whistle blowers have released a report that takes systemic corruption all the way to the top to the Chief Prosecutors office.

If you do business in Russia, at some point when running into an unexplainable denial of a permit or license of some sort, you have learned a very important non-verbal communication sign: rather than offering additional nonsensical excuses, the official will simply take an index finger and point it toward the ceiling. This non-verbal signal means that the decision came from the top. That "top" could some a regional figure or a national office. It means that there are no more appeals or negotiations to be had--the matter has been settled by someone with greater authority. In very big cases, that often means Moscow.

The report is well documented and rather than try to explain it away, the Kremlin understands that the facts are solid and thus has taken the position that it concerns only the family of Putin's chief prosecutor, not the top prosecutor himself.

A well produced documentary accompanied the report, and again the Kremlin has not even attempted to deny the facts. Instead, they simply say that the film is a creation of the West designed to destroy Russia.

The documentary has been seen on various social media sites by millions of Russians. Here is the YouTube version with English subtitles that was posted on 1 December:




The report's website: http://chaika.navalny.com/


An excellent review of the report by Bloomberg:
http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-12-14/watch-what-putin-does-to-his-top-prosecutor?cmpid=yhoo.headline


My view is that this has the potential to spark more open debate in Russia about the government. Notice that I did not call it a game changer, or the spark to change who sits in the Kremlin. But, if the opposition ever needed a topic that is of interest to the whole body of the Russian civil society, this could be it.

[Faux Pas]

What did I miss Mendy, where's the subtitled English version?

[mendeleyev]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXYQbgvzxdM


See the one below: it should work.

[mendeleyev]

[JayH]

1/ First off, I apologize if this has been posted on the forum previously.


2/ The documentary has been seen on various social media sites by millions of Russians. Here is the YouTube version with English subtitles that was posted on 1 December:

3/ My view is that this has the potential to spark more open debate in Russia about the government. Notice that I did not call it a game changer, or the spark to change who sits in the Kremlin. But, if the opposition ever needed a topic that is of interest to the whole body of the Russian civil society, this could be it.

1/

I had read link at earlier time-but chose not to post at that time !

2/
the number of view is interesting

3/

There is interest in Russia about alternatives.The ever present problem is expressing any dissention-but-- the more people that take a thinking approach- for whatever reason-- it can start a process.

Realistically-- in most countries with an educated base  there will always be a % of thinkers who who do not follow the  party lines in any given situation.Often the "intelligentsia" are in education,media,journalists etc who do have some idea how a system works( or is not working) and has the ability to promote a view--or a cause.
That and the people they can influence is probably only in the 10% region. In a democracy- that can be significant ( eg- watch the Trump wagon loose it's wheels in due course!! ) and can influence political directions. The problem in Russia is that it is seriously risky to be to high profile or outspoken about the kleptocracy-so creating the litmus for change is so much slower-- and the likelihood of any realistic opposition being removed is high.
Overall-- I think it is clear that there is some movement-or at least a start.

For Nemtsov’s friends and colleagues, his murder demands they continue his struggle, as a moral as well as a political issue. For many Russians, Nemtsov’s murder hit a nerve many forgot they had. Even though Nemtsov had been the target of a campaign of public vilification in state-run media for years, his assassination woke up tens of thousands of Russians to a Russia they thought was behind them. Russians not only came out on the streets for the funeral of a famous statesman. They marched because they realized important people violently losing their lives for political change in Russia. Whether supporters of Nemtsov or not, Russians know something is wrong when politicians are gunned down near Red Square. Such a brazen crime is reminiscent of the chaotic, lawless, dark days after the collapse of the Soviet Union. But hasn’t Putin changed all that? Isn’t that why Russians love and support him? For the stability and order his regime brought to a Russia plagued with lawlessness? If chaos and lawlessness is back, even Putin supporters might question whether Putin is really a source of stability.
Yashin vs. Kadyrov: Russia’s David vs. Goliath

It was a daring move. Friends and colleagues of slain opposition politician Boris Nemtsov have many challenges in Putin’s increasingly repressive Russia. They’re ignored by mainstream media and attacked verbally and physically for voicing opposition to Putin’s policies. And it seems that Putin has no intention of relinquishing his hold on power anytime soon. They barely get any attention, let alone justice.

http://euromaidanpress.com/2015/12/16/86838/

[JayH]

More and more questions are being asked.

Putin is not even aware that the vertical of power in the Russian regions close to collapse - Russian analyst

Depletion of federal cash reserves Russia automatically entail the weakening and possibly the collapse of the regime of a carefully constructed power vertical.

http://www.amn.com.ua/blogy/putyn-dazhe-ne-osoznaet-chto-vlastnaya-vertykal-v-regyonah-rf-blyzka-k-krahu-rossyjskyj-analytyk/

[mendeleyev]

Just last week new details of corruption by the family of the Chief Prosecutor came to light. The Kremlin and media launched into full scale damage control.

[Slumba]

Just last week new details of corruption by the family of the Chief Prosecutor came to light. The Kremlin and media launched into full scale damage control.

The "Chaika" video thankfully has full English subtitles, well-translated.

Is this the answer that Putin gave, to the question from the reporter working for Znak?



I notice the Youtube comments in Russian (from what I can tell) are somewhat skeptical of Putin's response.

[mendeleyev]

It would be interesting to see his public reaction to the new corruption revelations. That scene was a typical used car pitch to get around the question asked. It reminded me of the news conference at the Kremlin just after Crimea has been invaded. Putin was asked a pointed question by a young female journalist (a plant--as the normal international press pool had been blocked and moved to another room out of sight). He "schooled" the young lady at the time by declaring that no Russian troops had been used--an obvious lie.

A few months later as public opinion polls widely approved the action, he reversed himself (as he had done regarding the war with Georgia) and not only admitted that the little green men were Russian troops, but took wide credit for planning the Crimea coop and takeover.

In this case, Znak is walking a tightrope. They've already been hit with a "media warning" back in October for publishing a photo of Syrians trampling a Russian flag. Two warnings in any 12 month period means that the state can shut down a media company.

As to the responses, it really depends on who and where they come from. Most Russians outside Russia seem to reside outside of Russia for a reason, and they tend not to be Putin fans at all. If a significant percentage of the in-country population are beginning to question things, then that is a new development.

[BillyB]

In this case, Znak is walking a tightrope. They've already been hit with a "media warning" back in October for publishing a photo of Syrians trampling a Russian flag. Two warnings in any 12 month period means that the state can shut down a media company.

Getting shut down is better than getting assassinated. Article below says Chechnya leader calls for war on Putin's critics and shouldn't be spared if they are to save Russia. Watch your back Mendy. Although bad enough now, things could get much worse for the media in Russia.


http://news.yahoo.com/chechnya-leader-kadyrov-calls-war-putins-critics-132743392.html

[mendeleyev]

Kadyrov is an interesting character. Some believe that he coordinated, with permission from higher sources, the murder of Boris Nemtsov.

Kadyrov runs a rouge republic and even the FSB isn't allowed to take up permanent offices in Chechnya. However, in exchange for that position and fiefdom, there are certain jobs he must perform for his master.