There is plenty of crookedness to be exposed in Russia. Transparency International’s “Corruption Barometer” placed the country a desultory 143rd out of 160. But exposing sleaze can be a dangerous undertaking in a nation where journalists who criticize powerful people often end up dead. In 2009 the human rights group Freedom Watch ranked Russia 174th out of 195 countries in freedom of the press.
So the Russian business paper Vedomosti, a joint venture of Dow Jones, the Financial Times, and the Moscow Times, found a clever way to imply corruption without explicitly alleging it, all while still stroking the egos of its targets. In late October, the paper published 32 photos of Russian officials sporting high-end wristwatches, from President Dmitri Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin down to local officials. The pictures were brought to the attention of English speakers by former Associated Press reporter Seth Hettena.
Deputy Moscow Mayor Vladimir Resin, who has overseen a construction boom plagued by persistent corruption scandals, is shown sporting a watch that retails for more than $320,000. In another shot, he’s wearing a watch valued at more than $1 million. Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov’s watch goes for about $300,000 in the U.S., while Samara Gov. Vladimir Artyakov’s timepiece retails for $230,000.
Editor's Note: We invite comments and request that they be civil and on-topic. We do not moderate or assume any responsibility for comments, which are owned by the readers who post them. Comments do not represent the views of Reason.com or Reason Foundation. We reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason at any time.
|1.29.10 @ 12:04PM|#
Russians...million dollar watch & 20 dollar just got out of prison suit.
Untermensch|1.29.10 @ 12:09PM|#
What a great way to accomplish this sort of thing. It shows that people always find ways to get the truth out.
Steve|1.29.10 @ 12:16PM|#
And they could also be $50 chinese knock-offs.
Okay, maybe not.
|1.29.10 @ 12:49PM|#
Most definitely not.
Anomalous|1.29.10 @ 12:16PM|#
It's still dangerous to be a reporter there.
|1.29.10 @ 12:49PM|#
Can anyone identify the watch in the picture?
Josh|1.30.10 @ 4:31AM|#
It's a Greubel Forsey Double Tourbillon 30 Degrees Vision... and $300k sounds about right.
(Why yes, I am a watch nerd.)
Pingback| 1.29.10 @ 2:04PM
Echoes and Mirrors » Daily Links links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
monolith|1.29.10 @ 2:39PM|#
Brilliant Journalism.
Our "leaders" are so much more subtle. They just get the consulting and lecturing jobs as favours after they retire.
|1.29.10 @ 3:42PM|#
Lots of pictures of evil corrupt Russians here:
http://englishrussia.com/?p=1940
LarryA|1.29.10 @ 4:41PM|#
So that's why reporters never take my picture: a $12.50 watch.
Jimmy 'Crack' Corn|1.29.10 @ 4:43PM|#
What kind of watch does Obama wear? How about Bush, Pelosi, etc.
Great journalism on this one.
|1.29.10 @ 5:04PM|#
Barack's watch: www.barackswatch.com
|1.29.10 @ 5:05PM|#
Hyperlinked properly this time: http://www.barackswatch.com/
strat|1.30.10 @ 3:16AM|#
I suppose we can forgive him for the quartz. I hear the President's schedule is ridiculously tight.
|1.29.10 @ 4:53PM|#
A $300,000 watch ? That's fucked up.
Pingback| 1.29.10 @ 7:15PM
Watchdogs and Watches – Reason Magazine | Drakz Free Online Service links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
strat|1.30.10 @ 3:14AM|#
Two "new Russians" meet each other on the street...
Yuri: Hello, my friend! Do you like my new tie? It cost me 200 dollars!
Alex: Hello, my friend. Oh, I'm so sorry! You could have bought it for 300 just up the street!
Senate|6.20.10 @ 7:08AM|#
I am glad to see that people actually manage, against all odds, to expose the 'unfortunate' truth. By the way, I liked the joke about the two Russians. Thank you all, bee pollen benefits, Goodbye and cheers to all.
Pingback| 1.30.10 @ 1:05PM
Journalism Russian style « Da Mook links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
adam|1.31.10 @ 11:42AM|#
Must have emptied his account- the suit looks like something from the salvation army.
Pingback| 1.31.10 @ 12:49PM
Twitter Trackbacks for Watchdogs and Watches - Reason Magazine [reason.com] on Topsy links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Ratko|2.1.10 @ 3:29PM|#
Get the man's attention here and you may suffer a surprise visit at your work place courtesy of a tax auditor sent by the IRS.
Get the man's attention there and you may suffer surprise bullet holes in your head on the sidewalk near your work place courtesy of an assassin sent by the FSB.
In Russia boss of workers is prestigious job, is important to own dependable arm clock.
|2.5.10 @ 2:47AM|#
In Soviet Russia watch buys you!
efdfdg|5.8.10 @ 5:05AM|#
Louis Vuitton
Ed Hardy
abercrombie milano|5.27.10 @ 2:37AM|#
abercrombie london
watches|5.30.10 @ 11:15PM|#
paralyzed by systemic corruption at all levels, it canreplica omega be dangerous for journalists to publish anything negative about the government. People have been killed for trying to expose government corruption.
watches|6.2.10 @ 5:09AM|#
I like your article, your content helpful to me, thank you.
sucy|6.2.10 @ 5:10AM|#
Morocco's Princess KELLY GRACE
KELLY package is when pregnancy HERMES handbag with crocodile skin to cover the
belly bulge due to pregnancy so the picture became the cover of LIFE, and later
Mr. HERMES KELLY named with this handbag.
watches|6.2.10 @ 5:20AM|#
Today, we look at the most stars
christian louboutin platform p|7.23.10 @ 10:10AM|#
christian louboutin gold glitter pumps
ghd|8.30.10 @ 9:51PM|#
The world’s famous GHD hair straightener is well known for its super smooth plates and high technology ghd. GHD hair straightener is the best choice for stars and celebrities as well as now you can also use it to create any hairstyle you prefer. ghd straighteners are called the best hair straighteners on the market.
nfl jerseys|11.4.10 @ 11:56PM|#
jyt
Finnish Spitz|1.22.11 @ 3:35AM|#
auto repair Just what a sensible way to complete this type regarding matter. wolves gray The idea illustrates that folks always get methods for getting the truth out.
nike air max|8.2.11 @ 2:28AM|#
is good
moncler outlet|12.2.11 @ 1:21AM|#
good