If we follow the popular postulate that politics is a dirty business, the conclusion is sad: everyone involved in politics is morally unclean, and they cannot be a priori trusted. To debunk the postulates of the idea is unproductive. It is better to just look at a small part of people - those for whom politics is the main profession.
There can be no unprofessional politicians. Non-professionals are either propagandists or professional provocateurs. Statesmen also cannot be politicians. There is nothing to be done about it - such is the strict framework of the profession. Who can be a politician? One who exercises power in subordinate bodies and parties, or one who fights for power.
“Politics is not the art of the possible; politics is the art of the impossible, ” - Vaclav Havel.
"Veterans" of Russian political life
Vladimir Zhirinovsky (born 1946) is one of the oldest world politicians. In general, this could speak for itself, if not for one circumstance: the once-extravagant form of presentation of information dictates to him to remain one of the most vivid and odious politicians of a permanent transition period throughout the post-Soviet space, regardless of age. The benefits of wearing a mask once and for all for a given politician are win-win: any of his statements and proposals either become prophetic, or he can refuse them at any time, citing misunderstanding, no matter how violently he defended them before.
Boris Nemtsov (born 1959) - is currently a deputy of the Yaroslavl Regional Duma of the sixth convocation. His political life is almost ideal for a true politician: with ups and downs, storms and calm, compromising and exposing his whistleblowers. He was both the governor and the minister, held posts in the presidential apparatus and the Security Council, created parties, actively participating in modern anti-Kremlin opposition activities.
"There is no reason to refuse lunch with President Putin. But, taking this opportunity, we need to ask him unpleasant questions, " Vaclav Havel.
Vladimir Ryzhkov (born 1966) is a liberal and moderate politician. He began his career at the age of twenty as an organizer of perestroika rallies and an ardent opponent of the State Emergency Committee. Repeatedly was a deputy of the State Duma. Since 2000, one of the first opposition to the existing government. In February 2014, he left the RPN PARNAS party, of which he was one of the founders.
Zero generation policies
Dmitry Gudkov (born 1980) is one of the youngest modern politicians and a popular political blogger. Independent deputy of the State Duma of the sixth convocation. Just Russia was elected from the party, but in March 2013 he was expelled from the SR due to irreconcilable disagreements with the leadership of the party, conducting a pro-government, and not an opposition line. One of the few opposition politicians in the Duma who has consistently upheld the opinion of an enlightened stratum of the Russian public regarding the inadmissibility of adopting harsh laws that cut down the constitutional rights of citizens.
Sergey Zheleznyak (born 1970) - lobbyist from the United Russia party. Rather, it refers to the variety of propagandists, since it systematically disseminates arguments and information indisputable for members of the largest party in the Duma of the sixth convocation, but controversial both from a legal and humanitarian point of view. Initiates laws introducing censorship on the Internet and the media. It must be recognized that its massive impact on public opinion certainly brings the necessary political benefits to the parties.
“A modern person must go down to the very bottom of the spiral of his own absurdity, only then can he look above it. It is impossible to get around or jump over, it cannot be simply avoided, ” Vaclav Havel.
Alexey Navalny (b. 1976) is a popular blogger and oppositionist. One of the brightest faces of modern Russian politics. The most famous fighter in the world against Russian corruption, especially among officials and political activities in Russia, and the most famous "criminal politician." Currently, 8 criminal cases have been initiated against him. Meanwhile, Navalny is the creator and manager of such anti-corruption projects as: RosPil, RosYama, RosZHKH. While under investigation and trial in the summer of 2013, he participated in the mayoral election of Moscow, in which he won second place, gaining about 28 percent of the total number of voters. On February 28, 2014, the Ministry of Justice registered the Progress Party, which he leads. Also known for the fact that his name is never and under no circumstances called by the President of Russia.
"The difference between a statesman and a politician is that the politician is guided by the next election, and the statesman by the next generation, " Winston Churchill.
Mikhail Prokhorov (born 1965) is primarily a billionaire businessman, he is engaged in politics as a hobby. Despite this, having come to politics, he immediately won both supporters and ardent opponents. Founder of the party for the middle class and business "Civic Platform". Having entered politics only in 2011, by March 2012, participating in the presidential election, he took an honorable 3rd place in the Russian Federation and no less honorable 2nd place in Moscow and St. Petersburg. In December 2013, he transferred the reins of the party to his sister Irina Prokhorova, temporarily moving away from active political activity.
It should be noted that highlighting the truly vibrant and popular contemporary politicians is not easy. Not everyone who is listed above can correspond to this profession for one hundred percent, without deviating to adjacent areas. Many of those whose names come to mind primarily with the phrase “the most famous Russian politician” are either statesmen, propagandists, or disappointed, say goodbye to politics forever, or they are dissidents, but they do not position themselves as politicians, but as public figures.
Related article
Stanislav Kuznetsov: biography, creativity, career, personal life
