Right after publishing the investigation into the Chaikas, I decided that on Sunday I’d write a post about who is covering for these thieves and bandits. Sort of a list for the record. I’ll say it upfront: there’s basically nothing for me to write.
Practically no one has tried to defend them in public. There are people who dislike me and don’t want to praise the investigation, and they’ve all been saying more or less the same thing, ranging from The CIA gave Navalny these documents, but they should be checked (Gennady Zyuganov, leader of Russia’s Communist Party) to The FSB gave Navalny these documents, and they should be checked (lots of people).
The finest work on this subject is, without a doubt, a post by Kremlin political analyst Sergei Markov. Give it a read—following this man’s train of thought is like riding a roller coaster. It goes something like this: Navalny is an enemy and a liar. We knew everything about Chaika’s ties to organized crime 10 years ago. Actually, the investigation showed that wasn’t true. Chaika should have resigned long ago, and now he should jail his own sons.
As I already wrote, our usual critics—the more clear-headed ones—have said quite unequivocally that they have no reason to doubt the accuracy of our facts.
The only public statement in defense of the Chaikas turned out to be “a letter from deputies in defense of Prosecutor General Chaika”.
There were four State Duma deputies, and on closer inspection it turned out that all of them came from the prosecutor’s office.
Vyborny — worked in the military prosecutor’s office from 1991 to 2003.
Sinelshchikov — former deputy prosecutor of Moscow.
Ponevezhsky — former prosecutor of the Komi Republic (yes, the very place where, during his time there, an organized criminal group was created under the leadership of the governor—the one they’re now telling us about on TV).
Kurbanov — former environmental prosecutor in Makhachkala.
What’s more, all four of Chaika’s defenders are pretty much the same type of operators as Chaika himself or Lopatin. For example, in perfect Lopatin-style fashion, Vyborny’s wife is involved in some mysterious “business” that brings their family 40 million rubles a year (roughly US$600,000 at the time).
Sinelshchikov’s wife is also an astonishing “businesswoman” — 27 million rubles a year (roughly US$400,000 at the time).
I already wrote about Ponevezhsky from Komi, and I saw this about Kurbanov on Smirnov’s Facebook.
A Makhachkala prosecutor linked to illegal armed groups in the North Caucasus.
So there you have it. So far, only these four have openly come out on Chaika’s side. Very telling.
PS If anyone knows anything about the “businesses” run by the wives of Sinelshchikov and Vyborny, write to the Black Box. Maybe we’ll nail these crooks too while we’re at it. And honestly, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if that also turns out to involve business ties with the Tsapok gang, the GTA Gang, or Hitler. That’s the kind of prosecutor’s office this country has.