On Mishustin And Conspiracy Theories (A Rant).

OK, OK, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has got COVID-19. So, what? Give the guy a break, let him recover, God damnit.

After all, BoJo also was infected and, actually, ended up being seriously sick. He is fine (if this term could legitimately be applied to any British politician) now. But the moment news of Mishustin going to self-isolation hit the waves the hydra of Russia's punditry, including allegedly of patriotic one, raised the head. I will not name a person--a very famous person in Russia--with whose some views on economy I agree, but it was this person who immediately took to every available media to declare that Mishustin is going to be removed, allegedly for some failures. Really? So, as I stated, this person is not a bad person but this person, as actually many on the "left" in Russia do, pushes a lot of conspiracies, including the ones which this person has no qualification of explaining. 

Just recently, this said person while being interviewed by one very popular Russia media, continued to push the theory that Russia is (was) secretly tied with some "obligations" to the West, through her liberal "elite", which would not allow Russia's development. On the question, of otherwise arrogant ignorant (manifestly pro-liberda) interviewer, how about Kalibr (this is the extent of their "knowledge" of military and industry), this, otherwise not a bad person couldn't answer with anything but platitudes. Obviously, the fact that R&D and introduction of many current weapon systems in Russia's arsenal started in early-mid 2000 somehow escaped both pundits. I cannot stand Alexei Kudrin, but it was on his watch as Finance Minister (2000-2011) when financing for such massive programs as Borei-class project 955 SSBNs, or massive upgrade of the Air Force inventory, among many other crucial programs, was provided fully and uninterrupted. So, what's the deal then with all those mythical "obligations" not to develop Russia which resulted in Kudrin doing his job, unlike it was the case then MoD Serdyukov and his sycophant Chief of General Staff Makarov, that strategic forces received this much needed boost, including financing programs for such weapons as Avangard. That was on Kudrin's watch. So, something doesn't add up with this "obligations" theory, which saw foundation of Russia's present military and economic power laid precisely in this period of time. 

Or, maybe, we should (as I always do) admit that we simply do not know all details of a rather complex policy kitchen in Kremlin before jumping to any conclusions? But even if to discount this obvious fact, First Deputy PM Andrei Belousov is now in charge of Prime Minister's functions and he is a bona fide' Gosudarstvennik (statehoodnik) not to mention being the main driver of increasingly visible economic policies of fusionism or, if one wishes, neo-Sovietism. One way or another, Russia has more than enough competent people running her economy and the issue Russia has, as it is always case historically, is not top echelon but middle-level bureaucracy much of which was planted in 1990s and early 2000s and the one who is actually a main source of sabotage of policies. The process of removing it is ongoing and it is visible. Meanwhile, let Mikhail Mishustin recover (he may go completely asymptomatic, unlike BoJo) and forestall any bizarre speculations about the Rothschilds having secret, invisible, noose around Putin's neck, or Mishustin being fired. In the end, even Kudrin is on record that Russian economy is going to be fine. As per Kalibr family missiles, they have been in development since early 1990s and, evidently, no "secret" obligations prevented Russia from deploying an astonishing array of hi tech stand-off weapons already early in 2010s. But then again, what do I know about it.

Belousov's Gambit.

Paul Craig Roberts e-mailed me this morning the link to his latest on Russia and Alexey Kudrin based on John Helmer's (whom I do not read--I have my very serious reasons for this) yet another fantasy. Here is PCR's original post, some quote:

If the report below from John Helmer is correct, the implication is that Alexei Kudrin, Putin’s good friend and a member of the Russian government, is a traitor to Russia. The way I read Helmer’s report, Kudrin, a hero to Washington but widely regarded in Russia as an agent of the billionaire oligarchs that Washington and Israel put in charge of Russian assets during the Yeltsin era, is giving speeches advocating that Russia sacrifice its sovereignty and national interests to Washington so that sanctions will be removed and Russian oligarchs can participate in the West’s looting of the rest of the world.

I totally share Mr. Roberts' feelings towards Alexei Kudrin, he is globalists' shill and a despicable human, but I have to state immediately:

1. Lesha Kudrin can pretend whatever he wants about his position but he has NO real levers in formulating any policies. So, he is free to spell out his own opinions any way he wants as a private citizen but he is nobody in the inner circle which sets those policies Kudrin and people like him don't like. We all know that he doesn't like them, and we all, Putin, especially Putin, know what he is up to. Putin most likely knows when Lesha Kudrin goes to restroom and what number, 2 or 1, he is going for.

2. I don't think he is Putin's friend. They know each-other, that's for sure, but friends? I somehow doubt it but it is just me--I merely speculate and have no reliable way to define their relations one way or another. 

3. Of course, Mr. Helmer goes to "interpret" very measured and smart response by Peskov where he states that he "only partially agrees with the fact that sanctions...", well you know what? Here is a direct speech by Peskov which is anything BUT what Helmer presents it to be, and I quote "On Friday Peskov encouraged Kudrin’s return to power, defending Putin’s performance “so far” – without rejecting Kudrin’s policy". Encouraged? Really? 

Пресс-секретарь президента Дмитрий Песков заявил, что отчасти согласен с мнением главы Счетной палаты Алексея Кудрина о рисках для российской экономики от американских санкций.Он уточнил, что на ситуацию в стране влияет не внешняя политика России, а международная обстановка. "Давление на Россию, принятие незаконных рестрикций, односторонние действия в торгово-экономическом русле, террористическая угроза, конечно, это все представляет собой вызов с точки зрения наших планов по развитию", — сказал Песков и отметил, что до сих пор властям удавалось успешно с этими вызовами справляться.

Let's see if Google Translate will translate this REBUTTAL to Kudrin before I will translate it. In related news--I know Russian language better than Mr. Helmer. See red in quote.

But, what this whole fuss with Kudrin talking to the collection of Russian fat-asses "industrialists" is all about? Well, methinks (and I merely speculate again) that it has nothing to do with sanctions but has everything to do with Belousov's Proposal for nationalization of super profits by energy, steel and chemistry companies. This Belousov's proposal created a storm among last remaining fat cats and Kudrin, of course, added his frustration to this chorus. Of course, the way Belousov proposed to deal with those so called "industrialists" was not accepted. No, no tax hike. Kremlin came up with better idea--those poor poor dears were offered to invest into the several dozen major national projects and were offered a list of those and most of those malnutritioned and suffering "oligarchs" invested those super profits into the nationally significant strategic projects ranging from transportation to infrastructure, to what have you. You see, Al Capone dictum works really well--one can get much further with the kind word and a gun than with the kind word alone. In the end, the guy at the top in Kremlin used to be a Director of what is considered one of the best, if not the best, spy agencies in history. 

So, this Kudrin's activity as well as squealing from all corners of Russian "liberal" media universe, especially such "esteemed" rags as RBC or Kommersant (or Novaya Gazeta)--all lap dogs of anti-Russian globalist cabal, are just hysterical screams of a rapist having his balls tightly in the bench vise and this vise being tightened with every turn of the screw.  Indeed, can you imagine a horror? No new latest Ferrari and Nice villa for some well paid whores serving this so called "industrialists" class. Belousov's proposal was a brilliant play and now we see some results already. I could be mistaken (so, please correct me) but from the top of my head 36 important national projects have been financed through Kurdrin's "friends". You may try (in Russian) to find the actual number of such projects in one of the last month editions here. Of course they are frustrated...

In related news--gigantic news--PD-14 has been certified (in Russian), now it will get EASA cert in 2019. One series engine is already made, by the end of this year another two series production engines will be manufactured and then onto new MC-21. It is a colossal event.