A world that will not change

Drew Sullivan, the founder of the Center for the study of corruption and organized crime , promised that the investigation published by his organization would “change the world”. But in this promise of a journalist there is one small inaccuracy. Only the world to which he is used to change can change. A world in which there is independent justice, free media, public opinion. In which, in the end, there is a real election and replacement of the authorities.

For such a world, the publication of information about offshore firms of officials, suspicious transactions, the mysterious “Keeper” is an occasion for first -headed articles in newspapers, television shows, statements of representatives of investigative bodies and prosecutors. And even if the published documents will not open any real judicial prospects - the party, whose honesty is questioned, has every chance to fail in the next elections, and he himself will go to (not) an honorary pension.

Sullivan promised the press secretary of the Russian president Dmitry Peskov that he would work until late in the evening. I think Peskov spent a Sunday evening in much less stressful mode than Sullivan himself. What actually happened? “New Gazeta”, existing in order to defeat the bright image of the most popular policy of Russia, published another stuffing ? Western media entrusted a bouncing bagpipe about the “friends of the president”? Most Russian citizens do not find out about this attempt to compromise Russia. And if they find out, then as about the vile slander with which you have to live. And, most likely, they sympathize with the one to whom all this meanness falls up - only because he dares to protect Russia from its enemies. The Prosecutor General’s Office and the Investigative Committee, if they are engaged in Panama history, then only in order to punish the distributors of this slander and meanness. And the Russian media will not talk about Putin and his friends. They will talk about Poroshenko. Because scolding Reagan on Red Square is the established norm of Russian democracy.

Only the world that can and wants to change can change

By the way, how Ukrainians reacted to the publication indicating the registration of offshore firms by their president, already demonstrates how modern Ukraine differs from modern Russia. Almost no one claims that the head of state can do whatever he wants. No, the discussion is mainly about the measure of responsibility. About the political consequences - they will be or not. The fact that only formed anti -corruption organs should be taken. Both supporters and opponents of Petro Poroshenko have no doubt that he is the same citizen as everyone else. A citizen who is responsible for his actions and his misconduct.

And this is the world that Drew Sullivan can really change. Because, ultimately, the information itself is important - in offshore networks any politician of any, even the most non -rumber country, is important - the reaction to information is important. It is important to have a society that wants to know this information, to discuss about it, to draw conclusions. It is important to have media that can develop the topic and separate the true content of the documents provided from emotions and propaganda. It is important that law enforcement officers and courts react. The professional level of such a discussion and legal consequences is an indicator of the maturity of society. Well, the political consequences of any revelations - proof that the voter made his conclusion and assigned responsibility for the country to those who managed to be away from the epicenter of the explosion.

Only the world that can and wants to change can be changed.

Vitaly Portnikov - Kiev journalist, author and host of the Radio Liberty program "Road to Freedom"

Opinions expressed under the heading "Law" may not reflect the point of view of the Radio Liberty editorial