Mainstream media reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s August 2019 interview with the Financial Times understandably attracted lots of attention. It seemed that just about everybody felt the need to respond. Many commentators have focused on President Putin’s intentionally insulting comments regarding migrants, as well as his “end of multiculturalism” statement.
Still others seized on what President Putin said with regard to Russian oligarchs. Asked if there are oligarchs in Russia, Putin boldly claimed that there were none. He said “We do not have oligarchs anymore. Oligarchs are those who use their proximity to the authorities to receive super profits. We have large companies, private ones or with government participation. But I do not know of any large companies that get preferential treatment from being close to the authorities”.
His statement is, of course, in manifest contradiction of the facts. Andreas Umland, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation, Kyiv stated that the names of the richest Russians are not a secret, and almost all of them are in one way or another linked with the state, and often with President Putin personally.
Caroline Freund, in her book “Rich People, Poor Countries,” shows that in 2014 63% of Russian billionaires’ wealth came from dubious sources such as privatization schemes, mineral resource wealth, which is almost always connected with state-given privileges, and outright political connections. In comparison, the equivalent figure in Latin America is only 8.8% and in OECD countries 4.2%.
Thus, President Putin’s statement is wrong factually. Yet, in a different sense, it contains some truth. According to Andreas Umland, the term oligarch can be applied to two different types of powerful rich people. The “Putin oligarchs” are billionaires who “serve” at the discretion of the state. As a Russian commentator once said, they should all consider themselves to be temporary custodians of their wealth.
If and when they fall from grace with the regime, they could be stripped of their assets either through dubious legal proceedings or, if needed, more forcefully by being imprisoned. The original kind of “President Yeltsin-type oligarchs”, who “popularized” the term, were different. These oligarchs owned the state. The state essentially existed only at their discretion.
At the peak of their power after President Yeltsin’s reelection in 1996, which they had helped him win, in the deal that led to the infamous “loans for shares” trade, the oligarchs effectively controlled President Yeltsin as well as practically all of the levers of state power. Branko Milanovic, the Presidential Professor at the City University of New York stated that since the oligarchs also jockeyed for power among themselves, with some being allied with the military, others controlling natural monopolies, and a third group having their own media, Russia at the end of the 1990s was a country on the verge of civil war.
In fact, it stood not so far from where Libya stands today. Under that “regime,” life expectancy fell from 69 to 64.5 years – the largest decline in life expectancy ever recorded in peacetime. It was today’s United States opioid crisis multiplied by a factor of ten or more. Branko Milanovic noted that Russia was a country that was ruled, to borrow Mancur Olson’s terminology, by roving bandits. What President Putin accomplished through reining in these roving bandit oligarchs was to create a system of stationary bandits.
Their wealth depends on proximity to the state. As with every stationary bandit, they have more of an interest in the strength of the state and the welfare of its population simply because their welfare is more closely intertwined with their own. It is in that sense that Putin’s oligarchs represent an improvement. Since foreign commentators do not necessarily have to live in countries on whose democratic records they write, they are often wont to confound the two types of oligarchs. But for people who have to live under the two alternative regimes (i.e. roving or stationary bandits), the choice is rather simple.
It is a choice of living in a state of incipient civil war. Hence, on any given day, you do not know what might happen to your children in school, where you could be randomly beaten up in the street, abducted by different private militias or evicted from your home by one mafia today and another tomorrow. Of course, the same things can happen under the centralized kleptocratic regime such as President Putin’s, but there these things happen with a certain “logic” and “order.” Differently put, under President Putin, punishment is exacted for political disobedience and the rules of conduct are well known.
According to Branko Milanovic, in the system of disorderly roving bandits, punishment can be meted out randomly, or can be done for entirely different actions or reasons, some of which may displease one baron/bandit but not another. Under a chaotic system such as President Yeltsin’s, violence can come from any direction, for any reason and at any time.
To the outside observer, the system of random violence might seem more democratic. This is because foreign observers are exempt from it, as indeed foreigners were exempt during Russia’s “decade of humiliation.” There are indeed alternative centers of power in competition with each other. There is also freedom of speech. One media empire owned by one baron may well attack the media empire owned by another baron. There thus appears to be political life, despite the absence of the rule of law, rampant corruption and physical insecurity.
The system of stationary bandits is monochromatic by comparison, but for people who live under it, it is more predictable and much safer. It is no surprise that most ordinary people will prefer stability over chaos, predictable violence over random violence and some administration of justice over none.
Russian Oligarchs
Being Black At Miami Art Basel
In 2007 I attended my first Miami Art Basel, the largest art fair in the western hemisphere, and though I thoroughly enjoyed the overwhelming experience, best defined as serious sensory overload, it was clear to me that African artists were still absent from the US art scene. Frankly, I travelled to suss out the status and trajectory of fine art from Africa. I learnt a lot, met some interesting folks and took lots of notes and photos. I felt that one day it would be important to narrate my “dare to think big attitude” confident that the art of Africa and Ethiopia in particular would be of interest and value to art aficionados in the blue chip art world. By the way, the usual yet brilliant, namely Ethiopian artist, Julie Mheretu and Nigerian, Yinka Shonibare had several works proudly displayed by cutting edge galleries.
For art lovers in Addis, let me give you a snap shot of what Miami Art Basel is like. Imagine the Sheraton Addis Art Show and Addis Foto Fest combined and on super steroids in a 5600 square meter facility with 7meter high ceilings and a security system equivalent to that of the Whitehouse, with all the mega stars from film, fashion, music and lots of moguls with deep pockets and Don Perignom flowing all in a sizzling Miami Beach setting. Whew! Admittedly it’s also a big beach party. I had invitations to private parties, one for famous African American painter Kehinde Wiley who was commissioned in 2017 to paint a portrait of former President Barack Obama for the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery. Kehinde is also the founder of Black Rock in Dakar, an aritsts’ residence that opened in Spring 2019. Yes, watch for this trend, they are coming home and bringing the buyers with them.
Back to Basel and the current status of Black art. Atlanta based, Sonia Wignall, is an Afro-Cuban cultural writer who states in www.cadaonline.us, “In 2018, it is said that the dominance of black art at Basel caused some to question whether it was indeed Art Basel, or “Black Basel”. Almost every gallery, museum and exhibit carried a portion of black art as a prominent masterpiece to compliment and bring rhythm to the overall exhibit. This was not always so.” Sonia goes on to say, “The culture of the people of the African Diaspora is coming into an age of global interest and honor, beyond naked poor people, and children with swollen bellies. It is the culture that is on exhibit. It is the power, rhythm and the sensuality of the culture that can be seen in the art. It is almost as if the world has become so entranced with the art, that the yearning to capture it is now all but consuming the global art marketplace, and consequently rocking the art market to its core.”
However, New York Times John Eligon, who mostly documents the nuances of America’s struggles with race, writes, “At a time when black creators are being celebrated as much as ever – from Hollywood to the fine arts – some are raising the question of whether black people are truly the main beneficiaries of the culture they produce. That theme is at the center of an exhibition opening on Wednesday in Miami, outside of the official Art Basel program, bluntly titled “Who Owns Black Art?” But Eligon goes on to touch on other issues that in my mind help us address the economic and social side of Black art. “In one sense, it’s calling attention to the need for black people to become more active as art buyers so as not to miss out on potentially lucrative investments. In another sense, it’s about the dearth of black-owned galleries. And it also addresses underrepresentation among the ranks of museum staff, fair directors and other arbiters who have significant influence over which works and artists get elevated.”
With these sentiments in mind, myself and partner Artist Leul Merid Tafesse have invested in attending Art Basel on three occasions – 2007, 2009 and 2014. In the latter year I decided it was time to show the work of Ethiopian artists under Greater Miami Visitors and Conventions Art of Black, an initiative to promote and provide more platforms, during Miami Basel, for Black artists from the USA, Caribbean, South America and Africa. We found an incredible space, one of the oldest churches in Miami with a foliage filled foyer and block walls seemingly waiting to display the art of Desta Hagos, Daniel Taye, Merid Tafesse, Ermias Mazengia, Mathias Lulu and photographer, Birhan Tonge. During Basel, exhibitions pop up everywhere and why not a sacred space overstanding that art comes from the most spiritual part of an artist. Moral of the story is that the recognition of African creatives by others has always been a “day late and a dollar short” as the saying goes but now is the time for us to be prepared and organized so the New York Times can one day write “Africans Benefit From and Own Black Art.”
Dr. Desta Meghoo is a Jamaican born
Creative Consultant, Curator and cultural promoter based in Ethiopia since 2005. She also serves as Liaison to the AU for the Ghana based, Diaspora African Forum.
Valencia’s fast times to Roza, Kinde
Ethiopians Roza Dereje and Kinde Atanaw p.roduced impressive victories at the Maraton Valencia Trinidad Alfonso, a World Athletics Gold Label road race, in the eastern Spanish city.
In the women’s race Roza clocked 2:18:30 to move up to No. 8 on the all-time world list while pulling the next three finishers under 2:19, the first time four women have broken that barrier in the same race.
At 40 kilometers, Rosa lead in 1:55:04 alongside Birhane, with Cheruiyot one second adrift and Azmera, who finally joined the trio, for company. From there, Dereje began to step up her pace to open a sizeable margin on Cheruiyot and Birhane. But Azmera kept up the pressure.
Roza, who was third in this year’s London Marathon, kept her compatriot at bay to finish in 2:18:30, improving her lifetime best by 47 seconds to break into the all-time top-10. Azmera was next in 2:18:33, a massive 3:18 improvement for the 21-year-old.Berhane Dibaba came third in 2:18.46 to fill the podium as Ethiopia sweeping the medal table.
The men’s race was nearly as impressive, with the top-four all dipping under 2:05. By 35 kilometers, the lead pack was composed of Ethiopians Abebe Negewo Degefa, Alayew, Guye Adola, Kenya’s Kacheran and Turkey’s Ozbilen.
The 26-year-old Kinde broke the tape in 2:03:53 while Ozbilen clocked 2:04:16 to clip nearly a full minute from Mo Farah’s European record and lower his previous best by 1:11. Guye Adola completed a quality podium at 2:04:42 with Abebe Degefa next in 2:04:5, improving his career best by two minutes.
Welwalo Adigrat, Wolayta Dicha to a flying start
Welwalo Adigrat and Wolayta Dicha took a flying start after a premier League new season opening massive victories over Sebeta Town and Sidama Coffee respectively. Kassaye Arage’s second spell debut match ended in a frustrating defeat.
Four of his foreign players in action Yohannes Sahle returned home with a magnificent 3-1 away victory over hosts Sebeta. It must be the most unlucky day to Coach Wubetu Abate who hosted Welwalo in Addis Ababa stadium for the home venue still under construction.
A red card to Addis Tesfaye seven minutes into the second half, Welwalo’s new face striker Semere Haftay came from the bench to the second four minutes later then the final nail on the coffin at injury time once again Semere at the score sheet. A neutral venue, an early red card and the absence of the four expatriates for silly work permit technicality, lucky boss Yohannes runaway with all three points.
Though the 2-0 victory is in front of home supporters forget not it was against last season’s Premier League runner-up Sidama Coffee. Baye Gezahne and recently joined from Woldya Edris Saeed the goal scorers, Zeray Mulu blamed the field for his side’s loss while Gebrekristos Birara equally disappointed for the venue suggested they could have performed well but for the poor quality of the field.
Ethiopia Coffee supporters are also in disappointment for they lost to Sehul in the new season’s opening fixture. Though it was an away encounter many the traveled supporters are unhappy for the team’s performance. Had it not been for goalie Teklemariam Shanko’s individual brilliancy, the goal tally would have been higher. “We are confident of what Kassaye can deliver,” one ardent supporter remarked.
