| Monday, October 10, 2011, 18.00�19.30, Zofin Palace,
Conference Hall
Keynote Speech:
Grigory Yavlinsky, Economist and Politician,
Russia
Moderator:
Gregory Feifer, Senior Correspondent, RFE/RL, Czech Republic/USA
Panel Discussion:
William Browder, Founder and CEO, Hermitage Capital Management,
United Kingdom
Vadim Klyugant, Lawyer, Russia
Bobo Lo, Independent Scholar and Consultant on Russia and
China, United Kingdom/Australia
Click
here to watch video recording of the speeches
The panel examined the absence of rule of law in Russia. The
keynote speaker Grigory Yavlinsky distinguished
this absence by the lack of independent justice, the influence
of the political elite and of money. He identified three root
causes of the problem: the 1917 state coup in which �a criminal
group of people were taking power in Russia,� the privatization
process of the 1990s, and the support of the international
community for the political and economic reforms of the 1990s.
Mr. Yavlinsky also stated that �Russia�s corruption is a joint
venture with the West.�
William Browder then spoke on the possibility
of international action putting pressure on the Russian political
elite to interrupt this joint venture. While Grigory Yavlinsky
later reiterated the importance of initiating change from
within Russia, stating that Russian �politicians all know,
personally, that it is [their] task to change the system.�
Vadim Klyuvgant followed with an analysis of the Russian �dictate
of law.� He insisted on individual human rights as a foundation
for rule of law.
Bobo Lo continued the discussion with a distinction
between the notions of �rule of law� and �rule by law� which
prevails in Russia. He defined this concept as the �use and
abuse, particularly, of laws and administrative regulations
to support power rather than justice.� The panel recognized
the validity of Yavlinsky�s view that �there is no rule of
law in Russia and we must implement it.�
See also:
The
original publication
Privatisation
in Russia
Understanding Russia
Elections
to the State Duma 2011
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