Why did I like the prospect (of course, very weak) of Kasyanov’s presidency so much? Yavlinsky, known for his deep internal democracy and benevolent tolerance towards other politicians of the “right flank,” immediately explained everything about Michal Mikhalych: he built oligarchic capitalism and, to put it mildly, “collaborated” with the current government. It is clear that “such people are not accepted as astronauts.” This is exactly why I like Kasyanov.

The leader of United Russia Gryzlov and the head of the People's Party Gudkov assess their relationship completely differently. Gryzlov does not see any problems in them, but Gudkov threatens to withdraw all of his 20 mandates along with the deputies if United Russia does not stop supporting any decisions of the authorities. The parties' views on the monetization law especially diverged. 20 populists against the background of 305 United Russia members look unconvincing.

The will to meaning is probably one of the main aspirations that makes a person human. People sometimes look for a rational explanation of events, neglecting the warning of Alexander Yesenin-Volpin: “Do not look for meaning where you yourself did not put it.” This desire to understand applies to the Chechen war, as well as to other events of recent years.

Just recently, the ministry and its head Alexei Kudrin personally assured the public that there was no reason to revise the budgeted inflation forecast for the current year. Kudrin argued this even when inflation in January and February ate up almost half of the annual norm. Now the Ministry of Finance has officially changed its point of view. The main question is whether this forecast adjustment is final. Inflation over the past year was just under 12 percent. Shall we block it?

At a press conference in Moscow, Vladimir Lukin said that the West is unnecessarily politicizing the problem of human rights in Russia. “I prefer not to dance the cancan on this field,” said Lukin, “but to do what I can.” So don’t shoot at the ombudsman: he helps you as best he can. According to Lukin, over the past year his office received 30 thousand complaints.