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Today is International Anti-Corruption Day, December 9th.
We are talking about methods of resistance and ways of solving a problem
that is typical for all countries of the world, unfortunately.
Kirill Kabanov, the chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Committee
Let’s start with reasons for corruption in Russia and the difference from so-called Western corruption.
Unlike the West, in Russia corruption is not a result of a deal
between separate businessmen and government officials,
but the immoderate economic activity of the state.
The state has 1800 excessive functions.
It is a part of the ideology.
The president in 2008 said that corruption substitutes for all government activity.
The reason is the absence of civil society,
real political competition and representation of citizens in government bodies.
The president developed the national plan understanding this problem.
Later the National Anti-Corruption Strategy appeared.
A legal definition of the phenomenon is the president’s achievement.
These steps have been made recently.
This is positive.
Now the legal basis for anti-corruption activity has been established.
However, the problem is that corruption is not a simple social and political phenomenon,
it is a business with a $300 billion profit annually.
The business has sectors, which correlate with economic spheres, government purchases,
budget management, management of federal and local property, and natural resources’ management.
These are sectors of the shadow economy.
Interdepartmental relations, understanding of the government service as a business aimed at personal profit.
I discussed this problem with the president, and we managed to define ways of solving it.
First of all, it is imperative to ratify the twentith article of the Convention on Corruption,
which presupposes punishment for illegal profiteering.
If we understand corruption to be a criminal business, we should fight the results of the business.
A corrupt official should not only be sent to prison,
but all his illegally-acquired property should be seized.
However, these measures are insufficient too.
The state shouldn’t have excessive economic functions.
Many organizations and departments, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, insist on it.
Everybody is waiting for an order.
I think it will be given.
Representatives of the People’s Front promised they will carry out the necessary arrangements.
As for the ineffectiveness of social structures and organizations, including public councils,
public councils are based on bureaucracy.
Bureaucrats will never give up their excessive functions.
When we met the president last time, he told us:
“Why do you think bureaucracy will give anything away?”
And he is right.
Excessive functions should be taken away.
As an example of an effective system, Singapore can be named, where governmental functions are minimal.
Only 500 functions.
In Russia the state has 1800 excessive and 800 duplicate functions.
Officials stand behind these figures.
At the same time, we always hear that officials have small salaries, poor social guarantees.
But I asked my students, as I’m a tutor: “What would you like to be?”
They say they want to be state officials.
They answer me that they will gain the necessary links and open their businesses.
They don’t understand they are talking about corruption.
The legal basis has been established.
Now political mechanisms should be reformed.
Political institutions should be drawn out of stagnation.
Society should be modernized as well, as corruption leads to social tension.
Unfortunately, our business still cannot work with lawyers.
It is a mark of legal literacy too.
Bureaucracy should understand that corruption violates the principle of justice in the country,
which is dangerous for society and the state structure.
When an understanding of the threats to bureaucracy and society appears,
then mutual interest will appear as well.