The 9th of November was International Anti-Corruption Day. The UN initiated this date at a time when it was understood corruption was closely intertwined with organized crime, and criminal structures entered state bodies.
Unlike the West, in Russia corruption is not a result of a deal between separate businessmen and government officials, but the immoderate economic activity of the state. This is the view of the chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Committee, Kirill Kabanov. The state fulfils excessive functions, and as a result corruption substitutes for all government activity. According to Kabanov, the reason is the absence of civil society, real political competition and representation of citizens in government bodies.
The appearance of the law on corruption and a legal definition of the phenomenon is considered by Kabanov as the president’s achievement. These steps were have been made recently. Now the legal base for anti-corruption activity is established. However, the problem is that corruption is not a simple social and political phenomenon, it is a business with a $300 billion profit annually. The business has sectors, which correlate with economic spheres and the shadow economy.
Kabanov discussed the problem with the president, and they managed to define ways of solving it. First of all, it is imperative to ratify the twenty-second article of the Convention on Corruption, which presupposes punishment for illegal profiteering. Kabanov thinks that a corrupt official should not only be sent in prison, but all his illegally acquired property should be seized. However, these measures are insufficient too. The state shouldn’t have excessive economic functions. Many organizations and departments, including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, insist on it.
As for the ineffectiveness of social structures and organizations, Kirill Kabanov said: “The problem is in the exaggerated role of the bureaucratic structure in society’s life. Bureaucrats will never reject their excessive functions.” As an example of an effective system, Singapore can be named, where governmental functions are minimal.
The reform of political institutions should be an important stage in anti-corruption activity. Kabanov says that they should be drawn out of stagnation. Society should be modernized as well, as corruption leads to social tension, which is dangerous for society and the state structure
