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Magazine
"economist" published a selection of materials about modern situation
in Russia. In article named "States in the state", in particular, it
is spoken: "In comparison with Soviet epoch, modern Russian state has some
poles of influence. Forces are distributed among following institutes:
Kremlin
Administration
of the President now is very powerful and influential. It uses property of CPSU,
including farms, hospitals, planes, real estate etc. However, Kremlin has no
constant and reliable levers of influence on situation, especially in regions
far from Moscow.
Special
services
From
times of KGB, they own a huge collection of compromising materials. They have
fine opportunities for business dealing. Putin invited some natives of special
services to higher posts in the state. However, intense relations of special
services with Kremlin (reminding intensity of relations of KGB and CPSU) are
kept.
Big
business
Private
Property in Russia is not an end in itself - it depends on political context. Majority of owners of former state ownership received it not
in quite lawful way and can lose it in the same way. Therefore, large companies
get their own security services usually completed with workers of KGB, and
constantly pay services of officials and legislators.
Ministries
and departments
They
are practically independent in their daily decisions. They don’t operate well,
but have succeeded in extortion of bribes as majority of businesses in Russia
require licenses, sanctions etc. something to change in this system is very
difficultly, new minister cannot hope that he will manage to break a situation
on lowest levels as it is difficult for bureaucrats to find good replacement.
Public
prosecutors
They
have got incredible influence, and they are irresponsible and corrupt. They can
arrest anyone, due to unclear and inconsistent Russian laws. Their force
practically has not decreased from Stalin's times.
Army
and a military-industrial complex
Army
is much weaker than in Soviet time. It was knocked down not only lack of money,
but also plenty of accidents, corruption, and grave moral condition of personnel.
Recently,
due to more successful business in arms and renewed grants, in BPK are shown
attributes of life.
Central
bank
Constitutionally
independent (a good mark), but living on "wide leg" (a bad attribute),
it owns huge property. Concerning economic policy of the government, but these
qualities at all do not inspire.
Organized
Crime
It,
in majority of cases, promotes aside legal business, keeping connections at
higher level more and more. In Russia authority is not in hands of any
independent group, but of associations of different persons with common
interests. Similar circles of cooperation are created in each of 89
regions of the country, where an appreciable role is still played by local
politicians. In spite of the fact that all parts of this system are nominally
subordinated to Kremlin, control of the Center is limited. In epoch of new
Russian pluralism, it is difficult to imagine, that in spite of the great desire
of the Kremlin to restore iron control of Soviet times.
But
dispersion of authority conducts to stagnation - and for too many in Russia the
existing situation is favorable. Russia should carry out set of reforms - and
all of them are major. However any of them will not be carried out in the
near future. And not only because these reforms are difficult in themselves but
also because the country does not have enough political will. Those who are
capable to carry out necessary changes, have considerably more important purpose
- to keep authority in the hands.
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