&host=www.rt.com&uri=/news/russia-fight-corruption-information/&via=1.1 8.27.241.137:80 (Footprint 4.8/FPMCP)&ua=CCBot/1.0 (+http://www.commoncrawl.org/bot.html))
Media at the front line in war against corruption
Published: 15 September, 2009, 14:58
TAGS: Crime, Medvedev, Russia, Politics
A brand new administrative body with the aim of fighting corruption among officials has been introduced in Russia.
The organization – named Federal Information Center (FIC), Analysis & Security – will be receiving information about corrupt activities and providing it to the media.
The FIC is based on the idea that the only thing corrupt officials are scared of is being exposed to public attention.
“My colleagues and I have a broad circle of contacts which include top officials from the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Prosecutor General's Office. Our main task is to fight corruption among officials through the information about illegal activities,” Interfax quotes FIC head Ruslan Milchenko.
However, Milchenko stressed that the FIC will be dealing only with document supported cases. Among one of the first cases will be the disaster at Russia’s Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power plant.
Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev has repeatedly called on all to fight corruption in Russia. In accordance with his plan published in 2008, officials now have to declare their income.
According to the Center’s estimates, since the start of 2009 some $64 billion of Russian money has been laundered in various offshore zones.
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Bianca brings up some good points: But Bianca let me tell you about something that has become a thorn in the side of corruption, free info. The freer the better, sure there is the possibility of sensationalism but that is where the other side have just as much right to contest a free argument as the other side has to contest a claim of corruption. It all becomes a very public fight, well good we always hear about corruption we hear a headline then it’s done away with to many times, put to the side. I’d dedicate a website to it let any independent media body accesses to the data then leave any individual issues with them, if there are slander issues that arise the individuals would have to take them up with the relevant legal bodies. No one wants to be caught; if the majority wants the situation to improve the others will be singled out. I’m absolutely sure EVERY individual that is caught hands down involved in corrupt activities would want to scream victim of the state, wouldn’t they? Suddenly the Easy isn’t so Easy anymore and the right thing looks so much more attractive. But then I’m sure some people are so very corrupted that maybe they can’t change their ways. I’m more positive on this one, because don’t forget that while there maybe a lot of confusion around the world people still understand the basic situation in Russia that there is a lot of ingrained corruption and only maybe the top was “scraped off” (if you like) in the late 1990’s. That and the Russian leadership have a lot of political capital domestically and around the world that is because there is not such a monopoly on information 1. and obviously they are trying to improve the situation in the country 2. And at a point you have to say, A leadership that seems genuinely to be trying to improve things LONG term , sadly seems like a rare thing, some western counties excepted.
While every effort to tackle corruption is worhwhile, a combination of a government-funded body and press tendency towards sensationalism, may prove hard to manage. The last thing M&P team needs, is the accusation of using their connections to FSB for the purposes of smearing their opponents. Knowing full well how the faux-criticism works (not just in Russia, but everywhere), it may be their rallying point to claim state oppression. And it would probably matter little what the courts may say. Such critics will put Kremlin on trial for pursuing vendeta against "opposition". And sure enough, anyone nabbed in a corruption trial will have every incentive to become a celebrity in fight against the undemocratic government. I am afraid, one can see it all written in advance. These are the folks salivating for such an opportunity. What may happen is that Russian public will undestand the issue, and be supportive of the government. However, it is the lunatic fringe that will do anything to smear the government that will get all the attention of Western media. I hope it works out as intended. And I hope that media will really show the maturity and toughness for such a task, and not succumb to the pressures to back off the government position. It will be difficult to navigate, but it is worth to try!
wow it really seems like the start of a digital information revolution. maybe I overstate? but. what is it longest journey? Single step(s) etc etc.