Teaching Comparative

Creative Politics

Having exiled, jailed, or tamed the oligarchs created by privatization, reestablished state control of the media and the petroleum industry, outmaneuvered all the other political parties, and nearly re-centralized state power, Putin has now moved to regain Kremlin control over corruption.

The Russian Orthodox Church should be looking over its shoulder at Putin, the avowed believer, and minority religious organizations should probably fear for their existences. The religious sphere may be the one not under Kremlin control. (Of course, it may just be that I am not knowledgeable enough to realize that Putin long ago gained control over religious activity and treasuries.)

Here are the New York Times accounts of the latest developments. The second article hints that Putin is ensuring that his regime will continue even after he's no longer the front man.

In Shake-Up, Putin Fires Head of Russian Customs Service

"MOSCOW, May 12 -- President Vladimir V. Putin fired the head of the customs service and a dozen or so midlevel security agency officials on Friday, ostensibly part of an anticorruption sweep of the Russian bureaucracy but moves that also undermined a pro-Western member of his cabinet.

"Officials caught up in the mini-purge were accused of smuggling cars, wine and even yachts to Russia, or skimming the billions of dollars in duties collected in Russia's import-dependent economy.

"On Thursday, Mr. Putin transferred the customs service ... to direct oversight by the prime minister ... Andrei Belyaminov, a close ally of Mr. Putin's, replaced Aleksandr Zherikhov as head of the customs service...

"Experts see Russia as one of the world's most corrupt countries. In a ranking by Transparency International, a Berlin-based anticorruption group, Russia was ... in 126th place out of 159 countries in 2005.

"The customs service is seen as a prize in Russian politics.

"Stanislav A. Belkovsky, chairman of the National Strategy Institute, a research organization, said ... 'We don't see any struggle against corruption as a matter of policy. This is competition inside the system and level of influence.'"

Putin Says to Name Preferred Successor

"MOSCOW (Reuters) May 13, 2006 --Vladimir Putin said on Saturday he would name a preferred successor to follow him as Russian president and vowed to ensure a smooth handover of power when he steps down in 2008.

"Putin, who was himself made acting head of state by then-President Boris Yeltsin to ensure his election, has long rejected suggestions he should change the constitution and stand for a third term.

"The identity of his successor has become the country's hottest political topic. He gave no clues as to whom he would support on Saturday, saying that was a question for the people, but made clear he expected a role in the choice.

"'I think I would be right to express my point of view on one candidacy or another, and I will do this,' Putin told reporters...

"'I have certain ideas about how to set up the situation in the country in this period of time so as not to destabilize it, so as not to scare the people and business.'

"Since Putin's election, he has stamped his mark on the country, and overturned much of Yeltsin's work. Observers say that, while cracking down on crime and securing state finances, he has also undermined Russia's nascent democracy...

"The Kremlin's control over the media and levers of power ensure almost certain success for its choice.

"Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov and First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev are widely seen as frontrunners to be picked by the Kremlin to follow Putin. The lawyer Medvedev and ex-spy Ivanov come from different backgrounds, but are both seen as likely to maintain Putin's course of ensuring a strong Kremlin, and being assertive abroad.

"'Everyone is concerned about stability and are wondering what will happen after 2008,' Putin said. 'I cannot just say 'I've done my job' and you sort the rest out yourselves. To the last minute of my holding the presidency, I will responsibly do my duty,' Putin was quoted as saying.

"Since the fall of communism in 1991, Russian elections have been criticized by international monitors, who say the Kremlin's control over national life distorts the democratic process.

"Attempts to rig elections in Ukraine and Georgia led to popular uprisings and the election of pro-Western presidents, something the Kremlin is seen as being keen to avoid."

I'd put my money on Ivanov, given Putin's KGB background. But, if Medvedev has been a realiable and pliable assistant in the Kremlin, he might get the nod. Ah, democratic politics, Russian style. It's as interesting as capitalism, Chinese style and revolutionary politics, Mexican style.

posted by Ken Wedding @ 9:37 AM