The logic of developments during the crisis prompted authorities last week to deal with the problem of countering social and political consequences of the crisis more comprehensively. Until recently almost no systemic measures were taken in this direction and the stake was made mainly on use of force; currently the situation has changed. For the sake of counterpropaganda United Russia organized a number of rallies in support of the domestic automobile manufacturing industry and raising customs taxes on imported cars. This should draw accusations of lobbying interests of large businessmen aside from authorities and show that state authorities care about common workers. It is too early to draw the results, but judging by the first signs, United Russia’s role in covering these events is overemphasized.
The relations inside and between law enforcement and defense agencies are still tense, which is attributed to growth in their influence in the current situation. The prosecutor general’s office and its allies are still trying to restore at least part of positions lost as a result of establishment of the Investigation Committee (IC). In particular, the Supreme Court submitted a bill envisaging the return of the right to initiate criminal cases against special individuals to the prosecutor general’s office. However, it faced tough opposition by the IC allies and it is unlikely to be passed. Defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov managed to break his opponents’ resistance and lobby transfer of the right to sell property available as a result of military reforms to his ministry. Intensification of the process of selling the defense ministry’s property frozen last May should now be expected.