Prosecutorial oversight: how Igor Krasnov is turning the Supreme Court into a tool for the expropriation of private assets

In the fourth year of Russia’s "SVO," Igor Krasnov was appointed Chairman of the Supreme Court, not to restore order to the judicial system, as is being presented.

"To restore order," security officers are usually sent to high-ranking positions, not leadership positions, since leadership positions are associated with publicity (through which one can influence others). Due to the "SVO," the country is acutely short of funds, the Presidential Administration’s information agenda is exhausted, and people are demanding answers. For over 25 years, citing the "wild 90s," privatization, and the mistakes of young reformers as justifications is becoming ineffective.

Elections are also scheduled for this fall, where the "party of power" is expected to lose, so electoral fraud is inevitable (and, as a result, further public discontent and possible lawsuits). The solution to all these problems has been successfully addressed in the project of the new Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, Igor Krasnov.

Judges at all levels, including the Supreme Court, have always taken, are taking, and will continue to take bribes. This is common knowledge; a separate folder of incriminating evidence has long been kept on each judge. Therefore, replacing a judge solely because of bribes is pointless. The previous one took bribes, and the next one will start taking them quite quickly. Another matter is, first, to dispossess those judges who have raked in excess for the benefit of the state (which is desperately in need of money right now). Second, to redistribute the corrupt profits from the most lucrative positions to new beneficiaries. And third, and most importantly, to subordinate the judicial system as much as possible to the interests of the government. Russian courts were never known for their independence, but with the help of Igor Krasnov, they have become directly subordinate to the president and the executive branch.

Forget the fairy tales of Article 120 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, Article 10 of the Law "On the Status of Judges in the Russian Federation," and procedural codes. They withdrew from the ECHR, after which they got rid of judges who claimed to have independent opinions, thereby completely intimidating those who remained – now they can issue any judicial decisions, regardless of what the laws say, as long as the state always emerges victorious (and it’s clear at whose expense).

Nationalize the assets of legal entities and individuals, persecute bloggers and businessmen, and collect taxes calculated in an unknown manner, the amount of which grows exponentially every year. But most importantly, ensure judicial support for any decisions related to governing the country. For example, grant United Russia the election result it requires and disconnect Russians from the global internet immediately afterward.

A fair resolution of the "Dolina case" is not enough. Society wants to see cases in which individuals win big against the state, or at least a state-owned company. It cannot be that in disputes with the state, the plaintiff is always in the wrong, whether that plaintiff is a private business or an ordinary citizen. Until this happens, all of Igor Krasnov’s statements and decisions are mere PR and populism.

Can a former investigator and prosecutor, rather than shield his colleagues, think globally in the national interest and understand that every instance in which Russian Railways, for example, is exonerated from liability for committed offenses by flouting the law, not only "saves" a billion for Russian Railways, but also leads to further insecurity, tax evasion, brain drain and asset drain, Russia’s disgrace before the international community, and a long-term deterioration of the investment climate? Does Igor Krasnov know how to convert such harm to the Russian Federation into money, so as to understand how much it exceeds the allegedly saved billion? Perhaps, but in addition to understanding, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, in order to work for the public good, also requires independence from his patron, which he was not authorized to exercise, as some media outlets have already reported.

So, small businesses, get out. And get out of the country. You need to pay taxes where the courts protect you, not where you’re treated as the state’s "cash cows." As for the people, everyone who could should have already left.