Institute of Modern Russia

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A crucial component of any civilized society is the pace of its growth and the development of its citizens. The Institute encourages investment in Russia as well as corporate governance and external oversight of companies. This should be conditioned upon the rule of law and the protection of private property in Russia. Economic development is assisted through foreign investment, which introduces new management styles and transparency guidelines. The Institute encourages discussion and debate on the best ways to attract foreign investment and talents in Russia.

In September 2009, IMR launched the Committee for Russian Economic Freedom, or CREF. CREF supports free markets, free people and free ideas in Russia. Working with corporations and organizations, CREF seeks to promote economic growth and investment in Russia, while highlighting the potential political and investment risks of doing business in a country where government support for free markets, transparency, sound corporate governance and the rule of law is superficial at best.

By making the modernization of Russia a top priority for his administration, President Medvedev has encouraged foreign companies to increase their investment in Russia and extolled the advantages of Russia compared to those of countries with similar economies, such as China, India and Brazil. However, Russia’s executive branch continues to restrict political dialogue, judicial independence and freedom of assembly, while turning a blind eye to the institutionalization of corruption in government.

To increase awareness of and gain support for economic and personal freedoms in Russia, CREF started an “initial public offering” of Russian Economic Freedom which lays out Russia’s current economic situation, its political and economic obstacles, and the risks and rewards it poses to investors. The goal of the IPO is to garner advocates and shareholders who are supporters of CREF’s mission of free markets, free ideas and free people in Russia. To accomplish this, CREF supports reinforcing the rule of law, releasing political prisoners such as Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and encouraging business executives to speak out about investment risks in Russia.

Through its newly developed English-Russian website, www.russianeconomicfreedom.org, CREF maintains a discussion forum related to news and events on a wide spectrum of issues related to U.S.-Russia economic cooperation and trade.

In its activities designed around the three focus areas, IMR aims to promote a discussion among leading experts on Russia and representatives of Russian civil society around the following questions:

• Can there be modernization without liberalization of Russia’s political institutions and rule of law?

• How to transition to a diversified economy driven by innovation?

• How to achieve stable foreign investment climate?

• Can civil society become the driving force in modernization of Russia?

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A functioning legal system and respect for the law is essential in any modern country, and the Institute supports the efforts of organizations and individuals who advance the rule of law in Russia. President Medvedev has spoken about ending legal nihilism in Russia and the Institute supports him in these efforts. Despite having laws that are inherent to a modern society, Russia needs practice respecting those laws in daily legal proceedings. The Institute sponsors events that highlight rule-of-law efforts in Russia as well as events that include experts who debate methods of achieving fair treatment under the law.

There is no dispute that rule of law is a prerequisite to Russia’s modernization program. However, despite President Medvedev’s speeches and verbal commitments to the rule of law, to further reforms of the judiciary and to the fight against corruption, no significant progress has been achieved. Although the Russian government has been supporting several programs designed to develop a concept of legal reform, civil society has not played a significant role in this process. IMR is currently considering several joint projects with leading U.S.-based NGOs, such as the Eurasia Foundation and Freedom House, whose expertise and research capabilities could contribute to the legal-reform debate in Russia and help engage representatives of Russian civil society, various NGOs and human rights groups to ensure their input.

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Advancing the education level of its citizenry is top priority for all modern nations. The Institute supports efforts to increase the exchange of ideas between Russian scholars and those from abroad.

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One of Russia's major national disasters is a system corruption that has penetrated into all levels of the state administration − from a police guard up to the Kremlin officials. Despite the adoption of new laws and anti-corruption rhetoric of the president, the problem remains unsolved. A wide civil movement that would put up an uncompromising fight against corruption and its causes, is required. The Institute of Modern Russia seeks to help reduce the level of corruption in Russia by raising awareness about the scope of this problem, and by supporting non-profit groups and organizations dedicated to freeing Russian people from the pervasive and petty corruption that plagues their daily lives.

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