In Russia, the Score Is 0

The Wall Street Journal ^ | November 4, 2003 | GEORGE MELLOAN

[george wythe]

His approval rate is sometinng near 70% (not 100) now even higher then it was 2 month ago (was near 55%). It is clear answer of russian public on his crack on criminal rob barons. Those rob barons are russian mafia which everyone despises.

Most people will probably agree with the above statement.

What has Putin critics concerned is that the above facts might indicate that:

1. Putin is persecuting unpopular individuals for political gain.

2. There is no independent judiciary in Russia.

3. The Russian media are Putin' puppets.

For instance, consider this article written by a Russian-American:

Before Oct. 25, Russia seemed to be firmly settled into a political order that some political scientists charitably called a 'guided democracy." According to Yevgenya Albats, a famous Russian journalist and a current visiting professor at Yale, Russia has not had freedom of speech for over a year. Important political positions are still elected; however, every election that President Putin's administration considered important was fixed. No ballots were falsified, but the government made sure that every single media source supported pro-Putin candidates and that the names of strong opposition candidates disappeared from the ballot, according to Polit.ru, an independent internet-based news source. Given the lack of any tradition of an independent judiciary in Russia, most courts also caved quickly to political pressure. Formal institutions became increasingly irrelevant. According to Gleb Pavlovsky, an influential Russian political commentator, two factions within Putin's administration made all of the important decisions.

The first faction could be designated as the "liberals," led by Putin's former Chief-of-Staff Alexander Voloshin. The liberals were not interested in such trifling things as freedom of speech or free elections. Still, they did understand the fact that Russia needed to conduct economic policy that would encourage investment and promote economic growth. The recent yearly GDP growth of over 6 percent for the last four years in Russia is largely due to the reforms that this faction promoted. In general, Voloshin's group realized that investors' confidence is of paramount importance for economic growth and thus shielded businesses from government harassment. They also recognized that it is necessary to at least pretend to follow the formal channels, like legislatures and courts.

The second faction consists of Putin's old KGB buddies. They do not hold any particular political preferences, according to Albats. Their main goal is to maintain order and to impose unlimited control of the state over Russian people. Their grasp of economic matters seems to be minimal. Whatever economic views they have seem to be closely aligned with the old Soviet method of command and control. They have no regard for legislatures or courts.

Until Oct. 25, these two groups seemed to balance each other out. On Oct. 25, it became obvious that the balance was broken when Russian security services arrested Mikhail Khodorkovsky, one of the richest men in Russia and head of the Yukos oil company.

Btw, I hope that you, Russian freepers, keep posting your ideas here, since I value your opinions as a good counterbalance to our media outlets.

[RussianConservative]

I read plenty of US article on various news...US Prosecuter General practice selective prosecution all time. In example is Enron who US government not want to touch until public anger push it to prosecute. Then there various forgivencence for various criminals by presidents. These oligarchs care only for wealth and keeping what they get through theft and bribery of Yeltsin. Putin threaten them WITH LAW unlike free hand of NO LAW they get under Yeltsin...so fight they then.

[george wythe]

Thank you for your input, offering a Russian conservative perspective to these events.

I suspect that the Western media has probably overblown the Russian "crisis," but that's part of the intrinsic journalism bias.

Making neutral news into bad news sells newspapers.

[RussianConservative]

Very true...sell chaos not reality.

[RusIvan]

What has Putin critics concerned is that the above facts might indicate that:

1. Putin is persecuting unpopular individuals for political gain. ===

All right. If president calls for procecution known criminals who walked unchellenged before then he gain some respect and political score.
But I think it is side effect. Because if Putin refuses to procsecute then same popel will tell that he cover for Russian Mafia. At least some people on this forum told so before.

2. There is no independent judiciary in Russia. ===

The procecution office belongs to executive brantch Same way in US and Russia. The judicial brach are courts and judges. Same way in US and Russia.
Of cause those charges had to be proved in court then they become convictions. So procecution officers will present thise case in court.
We will see that. Unless they will have a deal with defendants. Same way in US and Russia.

You may notice that russian system copied from american.

3. The Russian media are Putin' puppets. ===

So think so? If you see how many outcry that arrest invoked from russian media you probably wouldn't think so.
WHole russian press corp and many politician s was busy whole week. And still busy to speculate to threaten president to make wild allegations.
Putin even was compelled to publicly say on TV. "Please stop this hysteria!". Do you think it is stopped? No.
SO much for puppet media.

[OldPossum]

You really think that Kenneth Lay is a political prisoner? Well, for one thing there has been no trial and no imprisonment. Same for Martha Stewart and the president of Tyco (I forget his name for the moment). What are you reading over there?

[OldPossum]

Ok, I guess I'm wrong, in US financial criminals not prosecuted.

Wrong, people who violate our criminal laws on business and commerce, particularly those who manipulate a company's stock, ARE prosecuted. The U.S. Government even maintains a special prison for them.

[OldPossum]

Re your posts (particularly 19 and 21), no one could put it better than you, george wythe. Our Russian friends, it seems, are reading material that is totally misleading them.

[RussianConservative]

It is called sarcasm. He no more political prisoner then oligarch called in for embezzlement, fraud, bribery and worse Tax Evasion.

I know though in US economic/finance criminal with monies rarely touched...US oligarch special class.

[RussianConservative]

I read very good article of US News World Report from 1 year ago and it list all various US oligarch and how little they prosecuted (when if prosecuted) and mostly light slap on wrist and light fine (that most refuse to pay too!).

[RussianConservative]

White Collar Crime in Russia and U.S.

[OldPossum]

A few things.

First, oligarchy is usually used as a term that refers to "a government of the few" (although by stretching it, you could come think of it as an organization of the few...but that is unusual). Almost all of the Middle Eastern countries, with the exception of Israel, are oligarchies. With reference to business, the term usually employed is oligopoly or monopoly. We have some of these but they are the exception. Generally, American business is very competitive. Corrupt? Yes, some of these firms are but very few.

Second, as I told you before, U.S. businessmen who violate laws are prosecuted. Not all of them, to be sure, but you cannot make a statement to the effect that they are "above the law."

Third, watch your sources. "U.S. News & World Report" and similar publications such as "Newsweek" (owned by The Washington Post, one of the most political liberal--that would be as opposed to conservative--newspapers in this country), and "Time" are put out by people who generally dislike business (except their own, you see). So, anything they publish about the business world is suspect. Don't believe all you read. If you really want to know what is going on in the American business world, read "The Wall Street Journal" (a newspaper) and "Business Week" (a weekly journal).

Fourth, your Russian sources, I would suspect, are similar to "U.S. News & World Report" and the other two. Your country will not rid itself of its Marxist orientation until the "old guard" has passed on and a new generation--such as yourselves, I think--have taken over.

[OldPossum]

Oh by the way, if you think President Putin is the man to lead Russia to a democratic government and free market economy, well, my friend, you have been "sold a bill of goods" (the latter is a phrase meaning, you have been lied to). There is no such thing as a "former KGB man."

[RussianConservative]

I read Wall Street Urinal and it publish much anti-Russian article since Berezovsky start finance. Also, maybe you not notice, WSU very for exporting all your job to India.

[OldPossum]

I said that "The Wall Street Journal" is a reliable source of information on American business; I did not say that I agree with everything they advocate. I disagree with their stance on globalism, which indeed is costing Americans their jobs.

You are right about their stance on Russian politics. The editors generally do not favor what is going on over there. Do you?