Pootey and Kremlin Allocate More Anti-Baltic Slush Funds

For educational purposes:

"21.11.2005 20:45 MSK
Imitators

The authorities desire to be good. Well, if not good, then at least to
appear so. Even the Kremlin and the Duma know what good and bad is.
They have democracy, as do we. They have a parliament, as do we. They
fight against terrorism, as do we. They give out grants, and we will
distribute.

On 18 November, after a submission from United Russia, the Duma made
amendments to the state budget for 2006. In particular, some 17.5
million dollars was allocated for "strengthening democracy and
building a civic society". The Duma's deputy speaker, Vyacheslav
Volodin, a member of United Russia, dreams of using this money first
and foremost for protecting "citizens' rights, their freedom, in
places where the Russian population is insulted, in particular in the
Baltic States". How insulting! In particular for Chechens living in
Chechnya, or for that matter throughout Russia.

But this sum of money will hardly reach all the way to those ethnic
Russians. Of course it is tempting to buy a tool of political influence
in neighbouring countries, but this money will attract the attentions
of many right here at its source. It is as yet undefined who would
allocate the money, and how this would be done. Most probably it would
be some non-commercial structure under the control of Kremlin
officials. For example, a civic chamber is now being created. The
selection of grant receivers would presumably be carried out according
to the same principles as used in the selection of the civic chamber.
The first word belongs to the President; the second to his spongers,
and the third for those selected by these spongers. There is no doubt
whatsoever that the main criterion for grant selection will be loyalty
to the authorities. While some money may go to a couple of (at present)
independent organisations, the rest will flow into sham projects, with
carefully measured criticism of local deficiencies, and returning money
to supposedly public (but in reality state) officials.

Russian NGO's have in the main part demonstrated their loyalty to the
authorities by entering the Civic Forum at the Kremlin back in 2001.
This was for free, if one ignores the cheap entertainment laid on, as
well as the doubtful pleasure of a personal t?te-?-t?te with Mr. Putin.
For money, one would imagine, these organisations would dance to the
Kremlin's tune even more quickly and willingly. Then the great dream
of the builders of the Vertical of Power will come true: to make the
Russian NGO's one more link in the system of Directed Democracy.

And those who stand in opposition to the Kremlin's overtures? Much
awaits them: such as tax demands, prohibition of grants from abroad,
draconian rules concerning registration, and various other
administrative hurdles. But the harder the authorities press down on
them, the stronger the truly independent organisations will become,
while those artificially created will remain powerless, however much
money is poured into them.

It will simply be a shame for the taxpayers, who will be obliged to
fill yet another feeding trough."

Alexander PODRABINEK
Translated Michael Garrood
http://www.prima-news.ru/eng/news/articles/2005/11/21/34069.html

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