Daily Journal: Worms

Published last Friday by the Kommersant newspaper, a frank interview with the co-owner and president of the financial and industrial group with the simple name “Finansgroup” Oleg Shvartsman, in which quite detailed and openly (or rather cynically) talks about the economic goals and methods of the “power bloc” headed by the deputy head of the Kremlin Administration Igor Sechin, caused a lot of noise. Moreover, it is interesting that few people doubt the veracity of the facts presented. The main subject of discussion is who is behind this “assault” on Sechin, what will be (and whether there will be) the consequences and retaliatory actions. Such a reaction is quite understandable. By and large, Shvartsman did not discover any America: about the active intervention of security forces (current and retired) in business, about their dominance in state, semi-state and even formally non-state corporations and companies, about “social allocations”, greenmail and raider attacks with the support of security forces - it has been said for a long time. And these conversations have already begun to lose their urgency and relevance.

The sensational nature of Shvartsman’s revelations does not lie at all in the fact that it became clear that the Russian political-economic system was infested with parasites that could lead this system to a lethal outcome - if they didn’t know about this, then at least everyone guessed - but in the very fact of the performance. It doesn’t often happen that some bull tapeworm sticks its head out and begins to broadcast about its exploits, presenting itself as a vital organ, an intestinal cleanser, hope and support for the brain, acting on its – the brain’s – direct instructions. So, if any sober-minded people still had at least some illusions that the disease did not affect the central nervous system of the Russian government and economy, and numerous facts of “forceful attacks” on small, medium and even very large businesses - unpleasant costs of the “YUKOS case”, such “excesses on the ground”, then after the interview these illusions should have been completely dispelled.

Now about the possible background of this whole story and its consequences. One can, of course, assume that a power group rivaling Igor Sechin organized the interview, and businessman Shvartsman acted as a “kamikaze suicide bomber” whose last mission is to overthrow the powerful “gray eminence.” Personally, this version seems doubtful to me. The interview looks more like a policy statement and a show of force. Moreover, the views and approaches expressed there became a logical continuation of the president’s recent speeches on the topic of “enemies of the people.” In essence, Shvartsman’s interview is Sechin’s view of “Putin’s plan,” a specific program of action to eradicate enemy oligarchs and strengthen the economic and political power of what is still commonly called the Russian state by inertia. This is also a provocation, which is aimed at a more confrontational development of events, a kind of “special operation to identify “latent dissenters.”
Having revealed their cards, Schwartzman-Sechin-Putin not only publicly announce the new rules of the game, but invite everyone who does not like them to try to oppose them with something. Moreover, they honestly warn that from now on the world is clearly divided into “friends” and “enemies.” And “our friends” in this world are allowed everything except betrayal - they are above the law, and “enemies” are deprived of any rights. That an attempt to appeal to the “world community” means automatically adding one’s name to the list of enemies “roaming around foreign embassies.” It is interesting that the publication of the interview coincided with Gazprom’s announcement of its intention to switch to rubles when paying for Russian gas, as well as with a widely publicized meeting between Vladimir Putin and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin, who told the president that the Russian economy is protected from negative external influences. Both are a kind of reminder to the West of who holds the gas valve and what oil prices are today, as well as a warning to investors against an exaggerated reaction. However, as for foreign and Russian investors, one should not expect a general flight of capital from the country. All people have different thresholds of disgust, and many are ready to communicate and do business with a person who has worms, even if he does not try to treat this disease, but, on the contrary, nurtures and cultivates it in every possible way. In the end, you just need to be able to suppress your gag reflex and wash your hands thoroughly after interacting with such a character. The same can be said about Western politicians - they are quite capable of communicating with the most cannibalistic regimes, and one should not count on their help. However, it is for the better. We must deal with our tapeworms and roundworms ourselves so as not to lose the remnants of self-respect.