Russian citizens were squandered or funneled off into
private hands. Those with connections or some cash
were able to leverage their position to take control
over large resources. An atmosphere wherein some
individuals were able to sell public natural resources
to enrich themselves (poaching) enabled corruption to
thrive. Development was allowed to occur without
regard for damages to health and the environment. It
is very common to read accounts of police collabora-
tion with those perpetrating environmental abuses, or
simply stealing resources, and police harassment and
abuse of those pursuing environmental justice. There
is substantial evidence that bribes and corruption are
systemic problems. Because it might reduce their large
profits, neither government nor industry pays any se-
rious attention to environmental safety (Yabloko Party
2011). The elite that has emerged in Russia functions
as a kleptocracy (Rosefielde 2000), marked by the abil-
ity to act with impunity, including privatization and
poaching of public assets, without regard for law or
justice. In this atmosphere environmental protection
is certainly not a priority.
Two examples illustrate the primacy of resource
for economic development (Sinitsyna 2007b). One
involves oil extraction in a Taiga region, where the
developer is burning off large amounts of incidental
gases. The regional governor called this a catastrophe,
but could not prevent it. The central government will
not stop this practice, or hold the developers account-
able, or fine them enough to make this burning un-
profitable. A second example is a World Heritage List
site in the Caucasus endangered because, to facilitate
development, the Republic’s president unilaterally
abolished the 1997 edict protecting it.
sharon
(sharon)
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