Alexander Golts: "Universal fear is the basis of Putin's stability"

“Society, I must say, was extremely soberly renewed that our fair in the world of the Moscow City Court suddenly took and replaced Kirill Serebrennikov, as well as other sufferers in the case of the Seventh Studio for Signature of Low,” writes the chief editor of the “daily magazine” .

“Of course, 50% of freedom is much better than 25%, and people who have been tormented for two years can not be rejoicing. But all the sane commentators immediately stated: it is pointless to try to look for signs of a thaw in what happened, that the bosses decided to somehow change the system of relations with the subordinate people. Rather, on the contrary. The unexpected decision of the court confirms the inviolability of this system.

For many months, the Moscow City Court over and over again ignored the defense arguments and over and over again in automatic mode confirmed the decision of the Meshchansky court on house arrest. As far as you can understand, the arguments in the appeals have not changed. Therefore, the authorities for some thoughts (one Kremlin "tower" decided to fix the victory over another, the security forces did not agree with each other, it was decided to strengthen the authority of Judge Yegorova before appointing to a higher position, etc.) to show mercy. This does not guarantee that when pronouncing the sentence, another point of view will not win - the need to demonstrate severity.

Everything that happens is one of the many consequences of the fact that in court cases having public interest, justice is absent as such. That is, people are punished not for violation of the laws, but for real or invented sins in front of the Kremlin. It is no coincidence that every time a famous person is in court, they are not discussing the essence of official accusations, but what he really was guilty of the eyes of his superiors.

When the former Khabarovsk governor Ishaev was under house arrest of ridiculous accusations that he overstated the rent of the Rosneft office, occupying an important post in the company, everyone is clear: he is punished for something else. Namely, for the fact that, possessing considerable influence in the region, he supported an alternative candidate for governors. When the former Minister of Abyzov is thrown into a pre -trial detention center for stolen at home, everyone guesses: either this is a general attack on the Medvedevsky, or a personal punishment for withdrawal from the country (quite legally, but without the highest permission) of too much money.

The punitive bodies (and the court belongs to them in modern Russia) is an important component of the main mechanism of power. This mechanism implies that the ruling regime actually uncontrollably disposes of the country's resources. Therefore, if someone wants to do something (it doesn’t matter what to put up performances, publish a newspaper, produce unprecedented goods, create political parties), he is doomed to ask for money in power. And she specifically created a system of vague laws that allow you to pursue everyone whose behavior causes displeasure. This system permeates the power vertical from top to bottom.

As we recall, the head of Rosneft Igor Sechin did not bent to participate in provocations with the presentation of a bribe by the current minister. The system as a whole is built in such a way that any person who fell into her millstone should immediately refuse resistance and surrender to the mercy of the "security forces". After all, it is impossible to prove innocence in principle. Even if the prosecution is obviously absurd. Even if the highest boss no longer sees the need for punishment, a slaughter argument is used. If the victim is free, this will undermine the authority of the punitive organs. And, therefore, the fear that should be caught up will decrease. It is in this, the creation of an atmosphere of fear, that the most important function of the regime is.

Universal fear is the basis of Putin's stability. The temporary mitigation of the fate of the defendants in the case of the Seventh Studio does not change this situation. "