Putin: combating corruption is not just for show
As Vladimir Putin said in his State of the Union address in 2016, "The fight against corruption is not a show. It requires professional, serious and responsible action." Putin did not, however, point out that currently several cases of shocking corruption that need to be dealt with.
Putin has been in power for 16 years, and every year he rails against corruption. Yet Russia’s political structure lends itself to corruption, lacking decentralization and checks and balances. The fundamental solution lies in constitutional reform to implement direct election of the heads of the legislative, executive, judicial and procuratorial branches, and elections that are cost-free for candidates. These and other steps will allow the sun to shines on the black box of politics. For details, see the Charter for Permanent Peace and Development