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Putin: Bribery, Lawlessness, Red Tape "chronic Diseases" of Russia

Vladimir Putin GesturingORENBURG, Russia. Jan 27 (Interfax) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has criticized bribery, lawlessness and bureaucracy in Russia.

"Things such as bribery and lawlessness are, unfortunately, chronic diseases of our country. Both in the times of the tsars and in Soviet times, it was all the same," Putin said in comments on speeches made at a meeting of the presidium of the presidential council for local government. The presidium was considering raising the standard of state and municipal services.
Image adapted from version appearing at www.rferl.org with attribution to RIA Novosti; materials at www.rferl.org otherwise generally copyright (c) 2011. RFE/RL, Inc. and reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036 www.rferl.org

Putin told a Soviet-era joke to illustrate his point:

"A spy comes to Lubyanka (the square where the KGB headquarters was located) and says, I want to surrender.' They ask him, 'What country are you spying for? The U.S.? Then go to Room 5.' In Room 5 they say, 'Okay, you are an American spy, but have you got any weapons? If you have, go to Room 7.' In Room 7 they ask him, 'Have you got any special means of communication? If you have, go to Room 20.' In Room 20 they ask him, 'Have you got a mission?' 'I have.' 'In that case, off you go and carry it out and don't disturb the people who are working.'"

"This is unfortunately been a practice here for many decades if not centuries," Putin said. "But today we have all the resources to change this practice."


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