RIA Novosti: Putin prepared to be held responsible for all happening in Russia

(RIA Novosti – Moscow, October 14, 2014) Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree with a widespread opinion that everything in Russia depends on him only; he believes that many simply want to find a person with whom the buck stops, and he does not resist this role.

“This widespread belief that everything depends on the president only does not correspond to reality. Many things are decided not by the head of state but by various bodies that make the relevant decisions. This concerns the government, the judiciary and law-enforcement system, regional authorities, and all the more so municipal-level bodies, where the degree of state involvement is defined solely through the legal and regulatory framework, and direct intervention can do very little there, to put it mildly, or is simply impossible,” Putin said, answering a question by a member of the presidential human rights council.

“But so many colleagues want to see a person with whom the buck stops. Well, your humble servant often takes up this role. I do not resist because ultimately we must all bear our own burden of responsibility, even for what seems outside our direct competence. This happens, by the way, in all countries, not just in Russia with its known historical traditions,” the president added.

He said that “to make sure that everything works like clockwork” it is necessary to improve civil society institutions, courts, law-enforcement system and the system of democracy, eliminate corruption, and improve the quality of work of the state government system as a whole.

[featured image is file photo]