So this week I have been reading the daily news from Russia and mostly it has ben a bunch of "Dog Bites Man" stories. Rich Russian robbed by unknown men in police uniforms... Beer distributor murdered, assailants unknown... A bunch of things you know happen on a regular basis, but that you don't really want to hear about on the eve of a trip to Moscow.
One of the benefits of our lodging here in Moscow is the opportunity to watch the Russian evening news with Zhanna, our host. We watch and she gives us a running translation, laced with her own commentary. This week the big story has been the official government medias reports on suspicion of corruption on the part of the mayor of Moscow.
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| Russian government PR campaign in a park |
Nothing gets on the official Russian television channels (and there aren't really any other channels) without government approval. The decision to report now on the possibility that Moscow’s mayor of 18 years may be corrupt is an indicator that the government has decided to go after him. It seems the purpose of the report is to get the public ready for his departure. He is not an entirely unpopular figure. A year ago polls showed he had an approval rating in 60% range. A more recent poll has him the high 30s. Pensioners like him because of the pension supplements he has arranged, but the Russian Constitution gives the president authority to fire him. Yes, the system allows the firing of a popularly elected official by presidential fiat - some democracy, eh? From here it looks like the mayor's days are numbered. (Post script from two weeks later. The Mayor was fired today)
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