Former Russian PM talks about Corruption

Magazine or Newspaper Article, The Citizen, (Kennedy School of Government Newspaper), volume 5, issue 11, page 1

March 19, 2000

Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Strengthening Democratic Institutions Project

 

Tiffany Troxel

Citizen article
March 19, 2000

Former Russian PM talks about Corruption
From Russian Prime Minister to Duma Deputy, all in one year, Sergey Stepashin saw first-hand the extent of corruption in Russia.

Stepashin, the former Prime Minister of Russia (1999), addressed a packed room of students and faculty on March 14th in Weiner Auditorium at the Kennedy School of Government.

Following a C-SPAN televised speech in Washington, DC the day before, Stepashin continued his message that corruption is a major problem in Russia which is beginning to be tackled.

As the Chairman of the newly formed Duma''s (Russian Parliament) Committee on Anti-Corruption, Stepashin stated that a "Components for Anti-Corruption Program" was submitted to the Acting President, Vladimir Putin, and had garnered his general support. The program included reforming the financial sector, reducing monopolies, restructuring the state administration, decreasing regulation of economic industries, approving a business "Code of Ethics," and revising laws to reduce corruption.

Because Putin is less reliant on the oligarchs for money and since he has expressed initial support of the anti-corruption plan, Stepashin remains positive about his anti-corruption measures being passed. According to Stephasin, "Putin is not engaged with any of the financial groups, known as oligarchs [as Yeltsin was known to rely on]. Yeltsin won the elections of 1996, when he was already considerably ill, because of those groups. After Putin''s (presidential) election, he will not have to pay such debts [to oligarchs as Yeltsin did]."

Although there might be difficulties, Stepashin was confident that significant improvements could be achieved. Stepashin pointed out that "there are three problems with changing law enforcement to fight corruption: authorities need more modern equipment, financial organizations use law enforcement to fight against each other, and we must get rid of the police attitude that all those in the private sector are criminals."

There is also a possibility that the program will find negative opposition in the Duma and Council of Federation (the two houses of Parliament). It is well-known that Russian politicians at all levels are subject to bribes and if the program is retroactive then officials might worry about their own prosecution. While in office, however, Members of Parliament have immunity from prosecution, unless a majority of Deputies vote to overturn this right for individual members.

Stepashin responded to questions on issues of Chechnya, political parties, and constitutional amendments with detailed analysis. Unlike some other Russian politicians, Stepashin did not see the situation in Russia through rosy-colored lenses. Professor Timothy Colton, Director of the Davis Center at Harvard, complimented Stepashin for taking a more critical view of Russia''s problems.

Although Stepashin is likely to face great challenges in his efforts to reduce corruption, Colton stated that "Stepashin is in the middle of his career" and he still has opportunities to achieve his political objectives and ambitions.

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The event was sponsored by the Belfer and Davis Centers at Harvard. Professors Graham Allison and Timothy Colton chaired the talk.

 

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