| Translation of Russian political analyst | | | | decried as narrow-minded anachronism.Russian |
| Alexey Pushkov's article of the same | | | | politicians still argue which party to |
| name.Handing over power to Vladimir Putin in | | | | pattern our economy and policy on - Europe or |
| 1999, Boris Yeltsin sought to preserve the | | | | the USA. Oh, but we must pattern them on |
| political alignment of forces and coordinates | | | | Russia, the total of its interests! Checking |
| he set during his rule in Russia in | | | | our interests with those of other counrties, |
| 1991-1999. The project 'Heir' did not only | | | | of course.Sixth. Under Putin the country's |
| imply selecting a man from Yeltsin's 'camp', | | | | controllability was restored, its slow |
| but the one who would preserve the status quo | | | | desintegration was stopped. When Yeltsin was |
| of the regime. This is indicated, among other | | | | in office the national republics fell off the |
| things, by the fact that he insisted on his | | | | Union, break-away sentiments appeared in the |
| 'key men' Alexey Voloshin and Mikhail | | | | Chechen, Tartar and other autonomous |
| Kasyanov to have the longest possible term in | | | | republics, even certain Russian regions began |
| office.However, the overall results of | | | | to claim autonomy (let us remember the Urals |
| Putin's five-year office show that he has | | | | Republic proposed by the Urals governor |
| discarded most of Yeltsin's heritage.First of | | | | Eduard Rossel). This process was slow, but it |
| all, he bridged the basic gap of Yeltsin's | | | | endangered the country's integrity. Meanwhile |
| epoch, the gap between the left and the right | | | | Yeltsin took the 'gulp as much sovereignty as |
| wings. Under Yeltsin, there was a continuous | | | | you can' stance.Zbignev Bzhezinsky, a |
| struggle between the authority, on the one | | | | well-known American political scientist, |
| hand, and the communists, patriots and | | | | published a map where Russia was divided into |
| socialist-oriented part of the population, on | | | | three countries: European, Siberian and Far |
| the other. The country was fevered by | | | | Eastern. That was his tentative project for |
| constant strife; the State Duma, where the | | | | Russia. Yes, there was a possibility of such |
| communists had majority, being in the | | | | an outcome - take the town of Khasavyurt in |
| vanguard of struggle with Yeltsin and the | | | | Dagestan, a part of Russia that was given 5 |
| elite, could not carry out the legislative | | | | years' independence. The danger of |
| process, as their laws did not suit the | | | | disintegration is still looming, although the |
| executive and were virtually directed against | | | | Center is keen on consolidating the country. |
| the latter.Putin neutralised the left, | | | | Putin lifted the national morale and showed |
| adopting much of their arguments: Russia does | | | | that separatism will not go unpunished. He |
| have the acute demographic problem (the low | | | | should beware, though, putting too much |
| birth- and high death-rates), the oligarchy | | | | pressure on the national republics and |
| dominance, corruption and weak army. These | | | | divesting them of their rights, as it may |
| points were taken upon by Putin in his | | | | cause an outburst of nationalism.Seventh. |
| election program, at least as a rhetoric (in | | | | Despite all the drawbacks of the present |
| the part of olgarchy limitations and army | | | | government, V. Putin was able to win back |
| financing they were put into actual | | | | people's trust for public authority. There is |
| practice). Then, Putin broke the Communists' | | | | no trace of 'devilry around the throne', so |
| 'monopoly' on patriotism, thus rendering | | | | glaring in Yeltsin's time and headed by Boris |
| their traditional 'anti-people's regime' rant | | | | Berezovsky. Even the liberal journalists, who |
| meaningless.Communists are now heard only | | | | criticise, sometimes unreservedly, the |
| when the authority initiates rash, unprepared | | | | present government, admit that there was a |
| and ill-grounded laws, like the monetisation | | | | mafia-like 'family clan' around Yeltsin, |
| of perquisites for pensioners - the measure, | | | | which held power in the country. True, there |
| which was not enough elucidated in the | | | | are various factions and influential groups, |
| press.Secondly, the President was able to | | | | promoting their interests and struggling with |
| revamp the pattern of power and unite the | | | | each other in today's administration, but |
| elite. Putin assigned the issues of economy | | | | none of these claim to have entire power, to |
| to liberal democrats, those of security - to | | | | be the only decision-makers.Some people say |
| the military and law enforcement, and | | | | V. Putin's team is not united. Yes, there are |
| entrusted the administrators who succeeded in | | | | controversies in it. But, on the other hand, |
| retaining power in later Yeltsin's weakened | | | | there is no 'family' either. St. Petersburg's |
| hands with domestic policy. These are all | | | | representatives were at first considered more |
| very different people representing differents | | | | 'close' to the President than others, but it |
| parts of the elite, but to a certain extent | | | | was not born out, say, Dmitry Kozak, was |
| united under Putin.Why did the Union of the | | | | dispatched to the Southern Federal District |
| Right Forces (the SPS) lose the recent | | | | as the President's plenipotentiary to deal |
| election? Because it was no longer | | | | with the Chechen Republic and terrorism. |
| indispensable: many government officers, such | | | | Under V. Putin the 'office politics' (the |
| as German Gref, Alexey Kudrin, Igor Shuvalov | | | | code of relations between officials) became |
| pursue the rightist policy as it is. The | | | | fundamentally different - meritocracy was |
| perquisites monetisation, drafting the | | | | established.However, there are serious |
| hyperliberal Forest Code, cancellation of | | | | problems ahead for Putin. He 'steered the |
| State Standards for pharmaceutical products | | | | ship about, but has not set a well-defined |
| and even motioning prison privatisation are | | | | course for her'. |
| the telltale signs of the liberal course in | | | | |
| Russia's domestic policy (whether these | | | | First. The economy grows largely due to the |
| measures are for the good or for the bad is | | | | oil price rise. Russia hasn't begun forming a |
| another matter).V. Putin has in his arsenal | | | | competitive economy - developing high |
| not only the leftist, but also the rightist | | | | technologies, launching large-scale target |
| ideas. It is not accidental that Anatoly | | | | programs, renovating the defense |
| Chubais tried to throw in the catchphrase 'a | | | | establishments, etc. All these could only be |
| liberal empire' to define the present | | | | attained with the participation of the state, |
| political system in Russia - the SPS was | | | | but it left the economy to its devices. The |
| losing its 'property right' for liberal | | | | positive dynamics of Russia's economy won't |
| reforms. Neutralisation of the right wing is | | | | keep, if the oil prices drop.The economy |
| the third accomplishment of Putin's | | | | remains passive: it absorbs enormous sums of |
| office.Fourth. Putin was able to considerably | | | | money and yields 6-7 percent growth, but |
| weaken the influence of big business on the | | | | Russia keeps selling its staple raw materials |
| State machinery and policy. Mikhail | | | | and does not work up new foreign markets. |
| Khodorkovsky made an attempt of directly | | | | There is no growth in mechanical engineering |
| converting money into power, like at a bureau | | | | exports, nor in high tech production. |
| de change - he offered 15 billion roubles for | | | | However, the competitive strength of an |
| power in Russia. His plan was frustrated by | | | | economy is determined by these two factors, |
| Putin. Some people say, it is not democratic. | | | | and not by raw materials, but by finished |
| But did Khodorkovsky act in a democratic way? | | | | goods. So far Russia's economy has not been |
| How were the 15 billion rubles obtained? In | | | | set for efficiency, no innovative |
| general terms, does big money entitle a | | | | breakthrough has been made.Second. The |
| person to power purchase? The history of | | | | situation in Chechnya is much more serious |
| Russian oligarchy is essentially about | | | | than it may seem, and the Chechen leader |
| converting money into power. Boris Berezovsky | | | | Ahmad Kadyrov's assassination is a heavy blow |
| and Vladimir Gusinsky were doing it through | | | | to the peace in this region. Though there is |
| mass media, for example, when in 1996 | | | | no war in the classic sense there, as |
| Gusinsky helped Yeltsin win the elections | | | | separatists have no power to 'fight on |
| enlisting the services of the | | | | fronts', Chechnya is pervaded with separatist |
| establishment-sponsored television channel | | | | and terrorist agents. Raids and acts of |
| NTV, it was the direct conversion of a media | | | | terrorism still obtain in the region, and |
| resource into power.Earlier in 1994 Alexander | | | | even spread to the country at large.Third. |
| Korzhakov, the then Chief of the President's | | | | Vladimir Putin has not yet created an |
| Security Service, conducted - by Yeltsin's | | | | efficient state machine. For example, the |
| instructions - the 'mug in snow' operation | | | | events in Beslan on September 1-3 2004, when |
| against Gusinsky, so that the oligarchs could | | | | more than 4,000 children and teachers were |
| understand that authority should not be | | | | held hostage, prove the low efficacy of |
| conflicted with, but paid off (not | | | | security service. Under B.Yeltsin the KGB was |
| necessarily with direct finance). So the | | | | being consistently wrecked under pretence of |
| oligarchs began to finance media to brainwash | | | | fighting communism (the consequences of this |
| people by meting out, distorting information, | | | | act are not yet fully overcome). Yet not one |
| misinforming, launching media attacks as a | | | | democratic state could manage without strong |
| punishment for public figures, orchestrating | | | | security services, what was really needed is |
| public opinion, spin control and fixing | | | | to reform the former Soviet |
| elections... For such services Berezovsky | | | | intelligence.Fourth. Russia should vindicate |
| even obtained an office in the government - | | | | its positions in foreign policy with more |
| he became deputy secretary of the Security | | | | firmness. American politicians spoke to me |
| Council and was responsible for the Chechen | | | | (Alexey Pushkov) about the surprise Russia's |
| issues (a glaring absurdity from today's | | | | refusal to back the war in Iraq caused with |
| perspective!).Berezovsky and Gusinsky | | | | the US administration. Why did Russia give an |
| believed that Yeltsin's apointee Vladimir | | | | impression that it could be counted on in any |
| Putin would let them play their games as | | | | matter, or that it shouldn't be reckoned |
| before. They were baulked in their plans. | | | | with? Because it had settled for anything the |
| However, certain agressive representatives of | | | | USA was doing, be it the withdrawal from the |
| big business persisted in their struggle for | | | | Anti-Missile Defence Treaty (the Russian |
| power - the inertia of complete license was | | | | government's comment: 'a deplorable error') |
| too strong, the sense of omnipotence struck | | | | or the second round of the NATO expansion. |
| root. 'We would beat Yeltsin all the same - | | | | The US administration overestimated its |
| while he had been learning to play domino, we | | | | influence on Moscow, but it was Russia who |
| had mastered chess', said Leonid Nevzlin, a | | | | gave cause for this, adopting a policy too |
| businessman and public relations expert. | | | | 'comfortable' for the USA.Unfortunately, many |
| Mikhail Khodorkovsky's logic was of the same | | | | features of Yeltsin's administration devolved |
| strain: the sense of exclusiveness prompted | | | | on that of Putin. The lack of publicity in |
| him to attempt to use financial clout and | | | | legislature is one of them. We are faced with |
| gain control over the State Duma and the | | | | political reforms, which come as if out of |
| Federation Council, thus becoming the 'power | | | | the blue - nobody has taken the trouble to |
| broker', de facto leader of the country. That | | | | explain their essence and prove their |
| splendid coup was thwarted - Putin's | | | | necessity. This is said to be the traditional |
| government wouldn't play either domino or | | | | Russian authoritarian style of |
| chess with Khodorkovsky, it simply upturned | | | | administration. But bad traditions should be |
| the table. Some say it wasn't nice or fair. | | | | changed, unless the government is willing to |
| Perhaps. But it was not fair play on the part | | | | stand aloof from its people.The main dangers |
| of Khodorkovsky in the first | | | | impending over Putin's administration are as |
| place.Khodorkovsky's political failure as the | | | | follows.The first is the situation in |
| failure of converting money into power was | | | | Chechnya. The efficiency of Putin's policy |
| logical. Yeltsin depended on the oligarchs, | | | | largely depends on his ability to settle the |
| as he had no other 'point of rest', being | | | | Chechen conflict. If the 'vertical of power' |
| politically and physically infirm, unpopular, | | | | built by him does not yield fruit in that |
| and undergoing persistent pressure from the | | | | region, he will fail to convince the country |
| left wing. Contrariwise, Putin is popular; he | | | | in the necessity of exerting control. It is |
| succeeded in uniting the elite and was able | | | | precisely the issue of Chechnya that will be |
| to move away from the oligarchs.Some | | | | the touchstone of Putin's policy, both in |
| political scientists maintain that the | | | | Russia and internationally. The Chechen war |
| restriction of big business power is wrong, | | | | and terror became Putin's gravest challenges, |
| as it entails the omnipotent power of State | | | | which demand the consolidation of power, |
| bureaucracy. True, the official powers should | | | | strengthening of the State, and in some |
| be counterbalanced, otherwise the State | | | | cases, turning the screw. But if the screws |
| becomes overpowering (this was Russia's | | | | are tight, and the vehicle does not move, the |
| permanent political bane, but the country | | | | question of the adequacy of such a policy |
| needed it because of its size, climate and a | | | | will arise.The second danger (more prominent |
| number of other factors). But Yeltsin's | | | | during his second term in office) is the |
| immoral big business is not the kind of | | | | appearance of consolidated opposition. It |
| counterbalance the community needs. While | | | | includes the liberal politicians who lost the |
| Russia was historically better off unter | | | | election in the Duma, but have a solid |
| total power, the oligarchs would retain it, | | | | support of big business, their own financial |
| but make it inhuman and anti-national - even | | | | resources, and a substantial backing from |
| more unscrupulous, mercenary and corrupt. | | | | abroad. They are eager to score political |
| State totalitarianism would turn into | | | | points using the government's mistakes. For |
| oligarchal totalitarianism. There was but | | | | example, against the logic of their liberal |
| imitation of democracy under Yeltsin, but if | | | | market views, they are attacking the |
| Khodorkovsky could have gained power, the | | | | monetisation of perquisites for pensioners. |
| political pseudodemocracy might have turned | | | | They are doing it, because the authority is |
| into oligarchal pseudodemocracy, with its | | | | vulnerable in this poorely prepared reform. |
| arsenal of manupulative and venal media. The | | | | The next power standing in opposition to |
| restriction of oligarchal influence on the | | | | Putin is the 'exiled' oligarchs. Berezovsky, |
| policy and strategy of the State is | | | | Gusinsky, Nevzlin are people with resources, |
| necessary. Giving a resolute check to | | | | and have connections in the West. Berezovsky |
| Khodorkovsky's plans, Putin made him | | | | is quite frank in saying that his principal |
| understand that individuals (even very rich | | | | goal is to weaken Putin's regime. Then, the |
| ones) cannot dictate the policy to the | | | | government is opposed by certain liberal |
| State.Fifth. Putin proclaimed the foreign | | | | media (which include several central TV |
| policy based on national priorities. Under | | | | channels of Russia), especially their |
| Yeltsin it was based on absolutely different | | | | aggressive part backed by the oppositional |
| principles: the first postulate was that | | | | big business. A part of national and regional |
| Russia should at all costs become the part of | | | | elite, displeased at the decision that |
| civilised world, implying the West; the | | | | regional governors be appointed by the |
| second was that Russia has no national | | | | President (and apprehending the restoration |
| interests basically different from those of | | | | of the unitarian state), may also join the |
| the USA; the third was that Russia should | | | | opposition. A part of liberal intelligentsia |
| completely reject the use of force in solving | | | | and the communists joining the liberals on |
| its political problems, as it is | | | | certain points also swing against the |
| 'undemocratic'.Over the past 10 years we have | | | | administration. Finally, the anti-Russian and |
| seen other nations solve their problems by | | | | anti-Putin forces in the West are also |
| various methods, including, alas, the use of | | | | opposed to Putin. All the mentioned forces |
| force as, for instance, in Bosnia or in | | | | are, however, largely outnumbered by Putin's |
| Iraq.We also realised, that the course of | | | | supporters (in Russia the ratio is about one |
| equating Russia's political interests with | | | | to ten). Nevertheless, they should be |
| those of US or EU is not absolutely correct. | | | | reckoned with.Putin has few propagandists of |
| Putin agreed with the USA in the crucial | | | | his ideas and proposals. He himself has to |
| issue of fighting terrorism, but he made it | | | | explain his home and foreign policy, the |
| clear that our countries' views on some other | | | | ideas of his political reforms. His press |
| issues differ. He is not afraid to say that | | | | secretaries and information services keep |
| Russia has inherent interests in the | | | | silence, although it is their duty to compete |
| countries of the CIS (Commonwealth of | | | | with the huge bulk of anti-Putin propaganda. |
| Independent States), even if it may annoy | | | | The system lacks people with active |
| some political parties abroad. However, the | | | | ideological and political thinking, capable |
| practical realisation of Russia's national | | | | of supporting its plans and decisions. And |
| interests may be impeded by two factors: the | | | | this is in the face of strong opposition, |
| cosmopolitan character of big business and | | | | nostalgic for Yeltsin's Russia - weak, |
| the 'anational' mentality of the younger | | | | docile, corrupt, and disintegrating.However, |
| generation of Russians, formed during the | | | | if the efficiency of administration rises, |
| past 10 years.'Paying taxes is our only duty, | | | | the economy grows, the opposition will have |
| and we owe nobody but God and our | | | | to bear Putin's 'authoritarian liberalism'. |
| conscience', Peter Aven, a business and media | | | | Conversely, if there are no tangible results, |
| tycoon, said in his interview. Yes, but if an | | | | he will be accused of sacrificing democracy. |
| individual knows neither God nor conscience? | | | | Putin must prove that his model is |
| Why should big business detach itself from | | | | efficient.The period of authoritarian |
| the rest of the nation? Russia's big business | | | | development is inevitable. The liberals |
| is essentially cosmopolitan, not to say | | | | condemn Putin's policy as restoration, but |
| anti-national.As for the 'anational' | | | | restoration is a normal practice for any |
| mentality, it becomes apparent from the fact | | | | country after a sharp 'side slip'. If a |
| that younger people, even those whose major | | | | nation loses capacity for correcting its |
| at universities is political science, | | | | 'side slips', it may, like a car, roll over |
| sometimes question the necessity of Russia's | | | | at a sharp turn of history. Restoration is |
| 'special attutude' towards certain issues. | | | | the nation's adaptation to new conditions, |
| 'Why don't we just trim ourselves to the US | | | | its self-regulation, aligning a car after a |
| position?', they ask. The notion of 'national | | | | drastic side slip. |
| interests', as well as patriotism, has been | | | | |