Quote Originally Posted by Aemilius Paulus View Post
He does further it, true, on the high levels. But on the mid- and lower levels, he fights it. All in his own interest of course, but at least he is better than anything else Russia was unfortunate to get. Low-level corruption decreases the efficiency of his own programmes while the high-level corruption, or political favours, is to his benefit and usually to the government's. Of course, some businesses thus get an unfair advantage, which is the main problem.

In reality, this is no or little different from the lobbies in US though. It is my suspicion the lobbies are much more active than the high-level corruption in Russia, as lobbies are so active and powerful in US, that is Putin was to equal them, he would have to make corrupt deals 24/7.
Some businesses "get an unfair advantage"...? What?

Look, a method used on several occasions by the oligarks(every single one of them Putin's friends, or former friends):

First, find a suitable profitable factory, government-owned or private. Then grab one of your judges, and have him make a verdict declaring you as the rightful owner of the factory. Then grab the towns local police force, and have them occupy said factory, force the previous owner to relinquish his ownership and then remove them. Then loot and pillage what you can, take up a gazillion loans, remove your personal stakes in it, declare bankruptcy and finally pocket the money you've stolen.

And no, this is nothing like what the US lobbies are doing. Not even close.

Quote Originally Posted by Aemilius Paulus View Post
Sadly, there are so many journalists regularly disposed of in Russia, that is possible to confuse them . I assume you are speaking of that lady who worked in Chechnya, and supposedly the Chechens got. And no, of course I will not bet, as you will win, supposing you bet on what I presume you will. If the "getting rid of" was sanctioned by the government, then it will never be solved. And if the Chechens really did it, it would be difficult anyway.
The chechens got her, that's what the propaganda is telling people these days...?

Look, the body was taken through a border controlled by the russian army. There is not a snowballs chance in hell that a car driven by chechens would get through one of those checkpoints without a full search of the vehicle, and that would've found the body. No, she was killed by russians, there is no other alternative. And it won't be solved, because the ones responsible are protected by Putin. Indeed, if it was to be solved, it would likely expose Putin's own corruption, and we can't have any of that, now can we? The Great Leader's reputation cannot be stained, can it?