Russian saying:"You don't do journey's, just destinations"! 25% of Russian agricultural land lies fallow as it is just not reachable, normally due to fallen bridges. The same for dying towns where there is no longer any industry as they can't get raw materials in and manufactured goods out. Apart from flying, transport links in many areas are now no better than in the times of the Tsars. Their aviation safety record leaves much to be desired.
Once you get much outside of Moscow their infrastructure is worse than 3rd world. Any money that is allocated for improvements will be zero before it gets to the place of need, where all the Putin jr's, like their godfather expect their 'graft'. The regions funds have been severely curtailed in this and next year's budgets as Putin's power base more immediates (ie Moscow and St Petersburg) are a much higher priority.
Having seen and experienced in Ukraine Soviet style bureaucracy, it makes you understand why the countries are very inefficient and poor. Paying armies of civil servants very badly is self defeating as they will top that up as 'appropriate'. In Ukraine the most corrupt public services in order of corruption are: Deputies (MP's) which includes many Oligarchs, Judges, Police, Border Guards, Tax Officials, Doctors, National and local government officials (especially planning) and teachers.
The inefficient old Soviet system of needing a licence for virtually everything is open to widespread abuse and part of the transformation for Ukraine with the EU Association Agreement is that CE is largely self-certifying with random or brought to attention testing and prosecution when appropriate.
Ukraine has had to bring foreigners into senior positions of Government as this is the only way they won't be corrupted and the required reforms will happen. Deputies have voted to abolish their prosecution immunity and this will hopefully eventually happen. If and when it does, this will be a real watershed moment in the transformation of the country. Russian deputies are also immune to prosecution, unless you displease Putin and he has it removed.
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Topic: Public transport in Russia (Read 1159 times)