[Marxism] PUTIN HALTS PRIVATIZATION PROBE

[Brian Shannon <Brian_Shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

PUTIN HALTS PRIVATIZATION PROBE

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told business chiefs there will be
no more reviews of the privatisations of the 1990s that made many of
them rich. At a rare meeting with industrialists at the Kremlin on
Thursday, he vowed to "help the business community" by guaranteeing
property rights.

There have been increasing jitters over the business climate in the
wake of the Kremlin break up of oil giant Yukos. Analysts welcomed the
move, saying it could help revive investment in Russia.

Mr Putin backed a proposed new law that will exempt property
privatisations which took place more than three years ago from future
criminal inquiries. Such a move would safeguard the empires of many of
the so-called oligarchs, who made billions in the post-Soviet era by
buying state assets at knockdown prices.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4379957.stm

PRESIDENT BUSH: I think the most important statement that you heard,
and I heard, was the President's statement, when he declared his
absolute support for democracy in Russia, and they're not turning back.
... When he tells you something, he means it. He asked what some of my
concerns were, and he explained answers. I told him that it was very
important that capital see rule of law, that there be stability, there
not be any doubt about whether or not -- if somebody invests, whether
or not the laws change. And I think Vladimir heard me loud and clear,
and he explained why he made decisions he made.
--from the February 24, 2005, meeting between Bush and Putin in
Bratislava, Slovakia
_________________

In this case it appears that we would have to qualify Marx's criticism
of Proudhon's famous aphorism that property is robbery.

from Brian Shannon


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