'..global corruption as being the root cause of many of the world's big problems.'

'..corruption in authoritarian countries can thrive because of the West's financial infrastructure, with much of the stolen wealth being held abroad.

..

The letter was published in The Guardian, Le Monde and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.'

'On the eve of the anniversary of his poisoning, Navalny issued an open letter published in Western newspapers, describing global corruption as being the root cause of many of the world's big problems.

Navalny wrote that while Western leaders try to solve global challenges -- wars, poverty, migration, the climate crisis, and weapons of mass destruction -- corruption rarely fits at the top of agenda, even though it is behind many of the world's main crises.

"Religious extremists of all stripes find it easier to conduct propaganda when their opponents are driving Rolls-Royces through the streets of penniless countries. Migration crises are caused by poverty, and poverty is almost always caused by corruption," Navalny wrote, citing other examples for war, the climate crisis, and terrorism.

Navalny said corruption had "long ceased to be merely an internal problem" of authoritarian countries and is now "one of the main causes of the global challenges that face the West."

He called on Western countries to challenge authoritarian leaders, including Putin, on corruption through numerous avenues and international summits, saying it would make things "very tricky, very awkward" for corrupt leaders and their cronies.

He also said that corruption in authoritarian countries can thrive because of the West's financial infrastructure, with much of the stolen wealth being held abroad.

The Kremlin critic said Western leaders should show "determination and political will" to fight corruption as he outlined five steps that are "entirely realistic."

They include creating a special category of "countries that encourage corruption" and the establishment of an international body, making it easier to take collective action against graft.

He also called for "enforced transparency" of all dealings between Western companies that deal with partners from corrupt countries.

"You work for a state-owned company in a country at high risk of corruption and want to buy a villa on the French Riviera? Fine, go ahead, but you should know that all the information about the deal will be publicly available. You want to have dealings with an official in Minsk or the aunt of a Russian governor? No problem, but you will have to publish the entire paper trail of the transaction," he wrote.

Navalny also called for personal sanctions to be imposed on oligarchs surrounding Putin, who he described as "the role model for all the world's corrupt officials and businessmen."

"Putin's oligarchs, those heading 'state-owned' companies and companies that are formally private but whose prosperity is linked to Putin's group, are not businessmen but leaders of organized crime groups," he said.

The letter was published in The Guardian, Le Monde and Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.'

- ..Navalny Says Corruption At Root Of Global Problems, August 19, 2021



Context

(Ethics) - '..fighting corruption, defending against authoritarianism, and advancing human rights .. strengthening .. our middle class. .. It is past time to end the forever wars .. zero emissions by 2050 .. liberty.' - Biden

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