Billboard in the Russian city of Kaluga
This is a billboard in the Russian city of Kaluga, placed over there this May to commemorate 70th Anniversary of the Victory in WWII. But for some strange reason the billboard’s message has nothing to do with the victory over Germany. The message is: “Today – Crimea, tomorrow – Rome. Congratulation with great holyday of May 9!” (In Russian language these two addresses make a rime: Krim – Rim.)
No doubt the annexation of Crimea is seen by majority of Russians as the most important victory and achievement of President Putin. This week some signs appeared, that Putin is finally making an attempt to reach a peaceful solution of the conflict in Ukraine. He is ready for compromises and sacrifices in order to save only one of his “achievements”: Crimea. Here is a quote from an article in the Russian English language newspaper “The Moscow Times”:
“Ukrainian sources report that Moscow, through business channels that include the CEO of one state-owned oil major, is quietly sounding out Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko on a grand bargain that would include Russia’s final withdrawal from the Donbass with Ukraine’s recognition of Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea in exchange for about $100 billion in debt forgiveness, gas price rebates and other financial incentives.”
There is no way Putin can give Crimea back to Ukraine. That would ruin his rating in Russia. In the world of propaganda Crimea has a top value. But is the Crimea so good a purchase for Russia in reality?
According to most of Russian media there is no happier place in the world today then Crimea. According to most Ukrainian sources it is real hell.
I found, though, one source of information, which in this case, in my opinion, can be considered reliable. This source is the web site of “Rosbalt”, the official Russian federal information-analytical agency, founded in 2001. Director of the agency is Natalia Cherkesov, the wife of Viktor Cherkesov, former General of Police, then director of the Russian Federal Service for Drug Control (2003-2008), Chairman of the State Anti-Drug Committee (2007-2008), head of the Federal Agency for the supply of weapons, military and special equipment and supplies (2008 -2010) and now a Member of the State Duma and the first deputy chairman of the Duma Committee for Security and Anti-Corruption.
According to www.Rosbalt.com Ukrainian state subsidies were meeting 30% of Crimean budget. Now 85% of the Crimean budget consists of subsidies of Russian government. This year Russia, suffering under severe economic crises, spent 125 billion rubles (over $2 billion) on Crimea.
www.Rosbalt.com quotes a known Crimean politician Vadim Mordashev:
“Crimea is on the verge of social unrest. Visit a market, ride in a trolley: a lot of people are out of work, there are plenty of failed entrepreneurs, people whose property was taken over by the corrupted officials. People had expected that with the arrival of Russia corruption would be reduced, but in fact it got worse – bribe-takers are everywhere.”
Crimean human rights activist Jean Zapruta, also quoted by www.Rosbalt.com, believes that the dissapointment of the Crimean people in the new reality would be much lower if it were not for the new government’s nepotism and its illegal and insane favoring of private property. Selectively and arbitrarily, nationalized property is transferred to the inefficient new enterprises, many of which in the near future will ask for money from the budget.
Why does Rosbalt, an official Russian government agency, publish this information?
The reason is clear: 185 criminal cases were initiated by Russian investigative authorities against officials of the Crimea as a part of the fight against corruption. But Crimean local government refuses to cooperate with the investigative authorities.
Sergei Aksyonov, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Crimea, believes that his contribution into the process of annexation of Crimea makes him absolute ruler of the peninsula. Sources have alleged that Aksyonov served in the mid 1990s as a lieutenant, or overseer, with the nickname “Goblin” in the organized criminal gang “Salem”.
Sergei Aksyonov
This week “The first Crimean” Sergei Aksyonov has made a number of new harsh statements on the local Crimean TV channel. He said: “They (federal investigators) are saying that… Crimean officials would steal even with severed heads. Look, nothing we do differs from other regions of the Russian Federation, nothing at all.”
Today Crimea became the battlefield between the corrupted but loyal to Putin “winning team” of an allegedly former criminal Sergei Aksyonov and Russian investigative authorities.
As it was specified by the Crimean politician Vadim Mordashev in www.Rosbalt.com:
“The fact that FSB had opened a lot of criminal cases against members of the ‘winning team’, inspired Crimeans. There is a hope that Moscow will restore order. If not – then the whole mass of unemployed and those impoverished by the corrupt authorities will take to the streets. Does Russia need it? I think not.”
