man of the decade--Alex Navalny

12-31-19  

Navalny:    In fact the vast majority of officials are not corrupt, if only because corruption isn't as lucrative in lower-level bureaucracies, [whereas theft of natural resource commodities such as oil and gas] is basically limited to maybe a thousand or so families with direct ties to Vladimir Putin at the highest level of his administration.  But yes, in a certain sense, the system is built in such a way--and the belief systems of individuals within the system are built in such a way--that you live a very poor but stable life within the system….

  We repeatedly see that despite the sanctions, despite the fact that there is a lot of talk on this subject the entire Putin elite feels completely at ease.  We haven't seen any real examples of asset freezes or seizures.  On the contrary we see people under sanctions traveling quite freely and continuing to buy up properties and assets only to register them to their children.  And regulators including American ones pretend not to notice.…I am completely pessimistic about the role of the West in the fight against corruption in Russia….

  We'll continue to build a nationwide system combating censorship through YouTube channels and blogs.  We have a system of more than 40 headquarters which now face the main task of learning how to survive under new conditions in which [the state] is trying to paralyze our entire structure and funding with constant raids.  We'll continue what we are doing, and we'll reinvent ourselves so that we can do it even more effectively in the new environment.  And we'll try to expand.  We have a lot of work to do….

 Court cases on this issue have been going on for many years--we are constantly making new attempts to register.  We'll always do it.  At the same time, of course, we're well aware that the Kremlin simply can't afford to register our party because then it's unclear what they will do with it in the elections.  But it's our right and we'll continue to defend it.    

https://www.voanews.com/europe/navalny-completely-pessimistic-about-western-curbs-russian-corruption