In his September “Go, Russia!” article, President Dmitry Medvedev lashed out angrily at those who oppose his impassioned call for modernization. He wrote, “Influential groups of corrupt officials and do-nothing ‘entrepreneurs’ are well ensconced. They have everything and are satisfied. They’re going to squeeze the profits from the remnants of Soviet industry and squander the natural resources that belong to all of us until the end of the century. They are not creating anything new, do not want development and fear it.”
A survey conducted by the Levada Center from Sept. 18 to 21 offers insights into the thinking of Russia’s business and political elite. It confirms that Medvedev hit the nail on the head: The country’s elite are generally satisfied with the status quo and do not want to change anything.
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