If one of the businessmen violates the rules, others must bear joint responsibility.

Nikita Belykh , governor of the Kirov region

I had to work in business, government, in the socio-political sphere and again in government. I was able to feel from the inside the mood in all corners of the triangle “government - business - society”. And, in my opinion, what is happening in this triangle now contributes to anything but normal progress or modernization.

The authorities, business and society unanimously and absolutely sincerely hate each other. Business and society consider government to be corrupt, slow and ineffective. Businessmen are seen by everyone as people who have made a fortune through dishonest labor, speculators, etc. And the authorities and business consider society to be eternally dissatisfied and lazy. And what is most paradoxical is that all parties have reasons to take such a position. Will anyone say that the government works perfectly and that corruption has been defeated? Or that all businessmen pay taxes honestly? Or do we have a society ready for constructive dialogue and civic engagement?

Remember, for example, the reaction that the publication of the Forbes ranking of the richest causes. Mostly hatred. Moreover, the vast majority of people don’t even know personally who they hate. Of course, there are people on the Forbes list with, let’s say, a flawed reputation. But there are also enough of those who have earned money honestly, through labor and intellect. However, the people's curse falls on them too.

It is very difficult to work honestly in an atmosphere of universal hatred towards each other. And even more so to develop normally. But how to overcome a crisis of confidence? This requires the efforts of all parties, but the main responsibility lies with the authorities and business, if only because they are more organized and structured.

The movement must be mutual. While still working in business, I often appealed to the authorities on certain issues. Now I am already receiving requests from businesses. I often meet and communicate with representatives of different segments of entrepreneurship. In a non-public format, I simply ask eye to eye: “Do you pay all your taxes honestly?” It’s easy to guess that I’m faced with downcast eyes and answers like: “Well, you understand everything yourself...” This categorically does not suit me.

If a business demands something from the authorities (and most often we are talking about forms of support - preferential loans, tax breaks, government guarantees or government investments, etc.), then it must understand several things. Firstly, the government does not manage the personal money of government members, but budget funds in the interests of society. And when providing certain preferences, it must understand what society will receive in return. Secondly, when asking for something from the authorities and society, a business must at least be honest in its relations with them. What moral right does a business have to apply for preferential loans if it does not pay taxes? This is an irresponsible and consumerist position.

I formulated this position to the business community of the Kirov region. We as a region are ready to increase business support measures. Including measures to popularize entrepreneurship. But let’s also take on some obligations to combat envelope wages, to pay other taxes honestly, to respect labor rights, etc. This should be a special format of a social contract and corporate responsibility. If one of the businessmen violates the rules, the others are jointly and severally liable. Relatively speaking, if an association of furriers or an association of builders goes to power for some kind of support, then they must understand that everyone for whom they ask must be honest before the authorities and society. Well, if the opposite is discovered, then the negative consequences (in the form of at least the failure to provide additional support measures) will be felt by everyone.

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