“Independent Gazeta”: Letter of the Committee “2008: Free choice” “On the threat of Putinism”

“Independent Gazeta” publishes today a letter from the co-founders of the “2008: Free choice” by Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Kara-Murza. The letter is addressed to the supporters of President Putin - to those who are going to vote on March 14 for him. According to the authors of the letter, now the authorities without any efforts have ensured the appearance of socio-economic well-being due to high oil prices, foreign policy calm and the framework of a market economy built during the years of Yeltsin. However, the basis of the current regime is an oil factor and censorship. A new socio-political formation appeared in the country-Putinism, the letter says. Its formula: one -party system, censorship, puppet parliament, the cessation of independent justice, the strict centralization of power and finance, the hypertrophied role of special services and bureaucracy, including in relation to business.

The authors of the letter identify five threats of Putinism. The first threat is the barracks banditry and the collapse of the armed forces. Every year, 20 thousand Russian boys suffer from “grandfathers”, and a whole battalion perishes from non -state relations in the army. At the same time, the topic of combat readiness of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was turned into a taboo. The second threat is a beggarly old age for 70 million working Russians. The state pension “accumulated” by citizens can simply evaporate if, for example, oil prices fall. The third threat is a rampant crime. The fourth is the persecution of entrepreneurs. Upon charges against the Prosecutor General of Yukos shareholders can be put another 15 million Russian businessmen, the letter said. And, finally, the fifth threat is the impoverishment of the Russian province and the collapse of the communal infrastructure of cities. Under Yeltsin, the authors of the letter say, 50% of the tax fees remained in the regions, and today the federal center takes 65% of the income from the province.

The authors of the letter have no doubt that Putin will win in the presidential election. However, they say, the president’s activity gives reason to believe that in his hands the 80 percent mandate from voters will mean card-blanche, including to arbitrariness. “Even if you trust Putin, do not vote for him - in the name of the well -being of your and your families,” concludes the co -founders of the 2008: Free choice committee.

Polit.ru reprints the full text of the letter in the section "Document" .