No one will dispute that it is better for the people that “thieves” rather than “vampires” wield power in Moscow (Latyina, Going from Popularist to Puppet, Moscow Times, 6 October 2010). It is a tragedy that Brodsky’s ironic query represents the real political alternatives currently available in Russia with respect to what its population can expect from Russian high-level public officials.
The actual damage caused by former Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov’s mega-corruption is impossible to calculate. It is the product of numerous “unknowns,” such as the scale of the corruption and how the stolen funds would have been. Certainly, individuals would rather have their own money than see it absconded or wasted by the officials, irrespective whether elected or appointed (though in most they prefer to elect and throw them out themselves).
Many Muscovites have significant needs for better education, environmental protection, housing and public health. Should they take solace from the fact that he was handed a university deanship rather than immediately arrested or charged with crimes as his former Deputy Alexander Ryabinin? It is still far too early to judge the impact President Medvedev’s firing of Mr. Luzhkov.
Was the decision to hand to Mr. Luzhkov a new position made to encourage other corrupt officials to leave their posts in quiet (unfortunately, to probably give other people the opportunity to engage in corrupt behavior) or was it because he has kompromat against other powerful individuals in the country? We will probably never know the answer, but can make reasonable guesses.
