New corruption scandal reveals more of Putin's anti-corruption strategy (476 words)

Published: 1/18/2001

Russia's paranoia sensors went into overdrive late last week. The daughter of Kalmogorov, the Deputy General Prosecutor, was detained at Sheremetevo, Moscow's international airport, trying illegally to export $5,000. The less surprising fact was that the next day, Kalmogorov's boss, Ustinov, issued an order stating that there be no criminal case against Miss Kalmogorova, even though the amount would warrant such a case for an ordinary civilian. It is not news that the Russian elite consider themselves and their children to be above the law. What is surprising about this case is that it got into the news at all. The prosecutor's daughter could have got the customs police to let her pass with a simple call to daddy, but it looks like the customs police were ordered to make a case of this. The customs police, who work under the customs committee,which was recently brought under the control of Putin's people, may have had orders to go after the prosecutors. Putin made no secret of the fact that he did not want to give Ustinov the job, and was forced to appoint him by the Family. Now it seems that Putin has a reason to get rid of Ustinov. Or maybe not. Today, the prosecutors started a new wave of interviews about the Media Most case, and the targets are much more senior than before. Moscow mayor, Luzhkov, was spared a trip to the prosecutor's office, but nonetheless had to answer written questions. On 16th January, Gerashchenko, the Central Bank Chairman, and Adamov, Minister of atomic energy, will be questioned. It is the first time, since Putin came to power, that anyone at these levels has been questioned. In particular, Adamov is a surprising candidate. He is part of the inner circle of the Family, and a large part of the revenues for recycling nuclear waste were moved through MDM bank, which is run by Mamut, one of the treasurers of the Yeltsin family. Adamov's questioning may give truth to the rumour that Putin had promised not to touch anyone in Yeltsin's close circles for at least a year, to give them a head start. So maybe Putin, who had a big meeting with the prosecutors last week, has found ways to bring Ustinov round to his side. Better to have someone competent who is controllable, than put an inexperienced man into the job, however loyal. In which case, this is further evidence for the strong arm approach to corruption - Putin will crack down hard on the wrong'uns in the government, and deal with corruption like that. This means that, for the time being, he will not adopt the plan drawn up by Gref, Economics Minister, who proposed radically cutting the powers of government, as a means to tackle corruption.

Article ID: 2302