generalspeaking

Choice: Political Civility or Barbarity

The little dance of revolving elite positions within Russia is coming to a conclusion. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's usefulness to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin may have reached its climax. The stern administrator and the well-intentioned legislator may be in conflict with one another.

Since the powerful kingmaker has now bypassed the illegality of running for Presidential office for more than two terms, he is now yet again prepared to be anointed.

Irritatingly, Dmitry Medvedev has chosen not to obligingly stand aside. Clearly he feels entitled to challenge his Prime Minister for a second term in office. That's ingratitude, is it not, a poor way to repay the man who was his mentor, whose influence and command of the political situation slid him into the presidency.

They were friendly colleagues, they appear to have become mildly antagonistic to each other's agenda of values and priorities.

Ever the rictus-faced iron man lacking diplomatic skills but depending on force of will and a flair for flamboyant self-display as another Russian strongman, Vladimir Putin is a throw-back to a much earlier age, still appreciated by the Russian male psyche.

His corrupt empire which has so gainfully enriched his former KGB colleagues, and his quietly deadly war with the independent press has been prepared for his return as President.

His manipulation of the justice system in ensuring that a former political opponent remains securely locked away, stripped of his influence, of his immense riches and his determination to launch a new opposition party has silenced other oligarchs who have no wish to end up like Mikhail Khodorkovsky, tucked away again for another lengthy sentence for refusing homage to Putin.

So under those circumstances is Medvedev, who has presented the past few years as the softer face of political Russia, the more Western-accommodating persona, an extremely brave or a supremely foolish man setting himself up for a comeuppance from a viciously vindictive-when-crossed mentor?

Labels: Political Realities, Russia, Traditions

posted by Pieface @ Saturday, April 16, 2011