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Alexei Ulyukayev trial: Kremlin airs its dirty laundry in rare public display of division | Alexei Ulyukayev trial: Kremlin airs its dirty laundry in rare public display of division |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Russia is not used to seeing its senior politicians tried for corruption – let alone see them sent to a high-security prison colony. Likewise, Kremlin infighting is normally hidden far from public view. Alexei Ulyukayev’s trial proved the exception in both cases. | |
Several theories have been put forward as to why. | Several theories have been put forward as to why. |
One: that Mr Ulyukayev stood in the way of all-powerful Igor Sechin as he tried to acquire a stake in the Bashneft oil company. | One: that Mr Ulyukayev stood in the way of all-powerful Igor Sechin as he tried to acquire a stake in the Bashneft oil company. |
The public record supports such an interpretation. Mr Ulyukayev opposed the deal before switching at the last minute. | |
Two: that President Putin wanted to send a signal about new rules of the game in a cash-poor government. | Two: that President Putin wanted to send a signal about new rules of the game in a cash-poor government. |
Many governors and officials, used to supplementing paltry official wages with excellent bungs, will be no doubt reconsidering their behaviour today. | Many governors and officials, used to supplementing paltry official wages with excellent bungs, will be no doubt reconsidering their behaviour today. |
Three: that in a context of growing chaos within government, this was a reminder of who was in charge and a warning not to expect weakness. | Three: that in a context of growing chaos within government, this was a reminder of who was in charge and a warning not to expect weakness. |
Four: the imprisonment of a rich minister will play well to the impoverished Russian electorate’s sense of justice ahead of next March’s presidential elections. | Four: the imprisonment of a rich minister will play well to the impoverished Russian electorate’s sense of justice ahead of next March’s presidential elections. |
Of course, it may well be that all four reasons were at play. | Of course, it may well be that all four reasons were at play. |
The trial has split the elite from the very start. Writing on Facebook, Anatoly Chubais, a former deputy prime minister, doubted its very premise: “They are saying Ulyukayev was threatening [state-owned oil company] Rosneft. Have I suddenly stopped understanding something about this world?” | |
Alexei Kudrin, another former deputy prime minister, and close friend of the President, today described the verdict as “awful” and “groundless". | |
Anyone can fall victim to such injustice in Russia, he wrote on Twitter. | Anyone can fall victim to such injustice in Russia, he wrote on Twitter. |
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