I'm reading today's order from Putin on holding a seminar titled "How to Fight Corruption." Presidential envoys, ministers, and governors are required to send their deputies/representatives there.
In principle, it's a good idea.
But then I get to points 9 and 10 and see: "for official use only."
Secret provisions for preparing a seminar on fighting corruption.
Very symbolic. That's exactly what our whole "fight against corruption" is like.
I imagine the points Putin feels he needs to hide from Russian citizens read something like this:
9. Before the seminar is held, participants should take into account the experience of civil servants previously caught in corruption cases (the cases of Y. Ya. Chaika and D. A. Medvedev are recommended), in order to better absorb the methodological guidance of the course "Only Idiots Get Caught," developed by experts from the Presidential Administration.
10. Cash funds transferred by the heads of executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation as a voluntary contribution to the anti-corruption unit of the Presidential Administration must be in proper bank packaging and sorted by denomination. Funds packaged by improvised means (including with the use of a "rubber band") will not be accepted.
People