Ever wondered why many Western business managers, journalists, politicians, or pundits defend Putin’s aggressive and oppressive policies? Ever wondered why so few Russians in Russia and abroad speak out against Putin’s oppressive policies? If you haven’t wondered yet, that is because as a Westerner you cannot fathom in the slightest the Putin system of oppression, coercion, and corruption. Some of Putin’s apologists might genuinely believe that Russia is not interfering in Ukraine, hasn’t invaded Crimea and isn’t a racist, fascist dictatorship ruled by a kleptomaniac dwarf. Other Russia defenders hate the West and per “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” have thrown their lot in with Putin. Both of these groups are in the Kremlin’s view “useful idiots”, as it has to neither pay nor coerce them, as they incessantly repeat all the harebrained nonsense emanating from the Kremlin’s propaganda machine. However, the largest group of Kremlin defenders are people either bribed or threatened to do so. Bribe and threaten – yes, these are classic espionage elements and Putin’s regime uses them masterfully to give itself a secret army of apologists. Unlike well known sellouts like e.g. Gerhard Schröder, who gets at least 250,000€ a year to shill for Putin, the hidden army of Putin claqueurs gets its pay through myriads of semi-legal, illegal, and outright criminal schemes. Let me present some: 1. How to corrupt scholars, journalists or pundits: the most common way is to pay them for writing brochures, strategy papers or analysis and pay them outrageously high sums. But paying i.e. 150,000$ to a journalist for writing a page long article for a Russian corporate brochure would discredit him as a “neutral voice” and raise suspicions with his tax authorities back home; therefore, Russia has developed ways to hide the money flow. While a little token sum is paid officially, the rest is either deposited in an offshore account owned by an offshore shell company with the journalist having access to the money via a debit card issued to the shell company, or the remaining money is used to knock down prices for things the journalist wishes to buy: “Always wanted to have a holiday home in Spain? Well, aren’t you lucky that this homeless Spanish man just bought your dream home, exquisitely renovated it and now wants to sell it to you for an incredible low price!” Everyone who agrees to such a deal commits tax fraud and thus gives Russia extra leverage which they won’t use unless someone suddenly wishes to become honest. After all it is much easier to bribe people than to threaten them. How pervasive is such corruption? In the countries of the former Soviet Union and Germany – endemic! 2. How to corrupt politicians and parties: this is even easier than corrupting the press. To corrupt parties just donate, if donations by foreigners are illegal, either funnel money to Russians who have bought citizenship, or prod business people with business in Russia to donate and influence the parties in Russia’s interest. If a Russian refuses, be sure to remind him that he still has relatives in Russia, who would certainly love to have trumped up charges thrown at them; if a business person refuses, be sure to remind him that his choice is between no inspections for year or daily inspections by Russian authorities of his business for a year. But business people working in Russia never need a reminder, they know the game: do as the authorities want and in return overcharge the Russian state audaciously, for the authorities will approve, pay and then come back to get their share. This is the way that Russia finances and buys itself all kinds of parties in Europe, be it small opposition parties, 'secessionist movements', government parties. Some of them know where the money comes from, many suspect where it comes from, but just don’t have the urge to check. As for politicians, those are equally easily bribed. As with journalists, salaries for lectures and conferences are a proven way after a politician has left office, while during their time in office promises of a lucrative job as a member of the board at a Russian state corporation, or head of a Russian sponsored annual conference can do wonders for reinvigorating a sudden urge to lobby for and defend Russia’s interests, as proven by Germany’s political elite rushing to hug St. Putin in St. Petersburg, while German officers are tortured in a dungeon by Russian military intelligence operatives..................... Russian terrorists distributing "Igla" MANPADs seized from Ukraine Ordnance depot (probably Sloviansk) The russians couldn't sneak them in, being to bulky, when they infiltrated, so they went and stole them from where they were kept in storage.
