Vladimir Putin's anti-corruption drive met with cynicism
Fears grow that bid to curb corruption is a PR gambit - and may even mask Kremlin infighting
More than 200 years ago, the renowned Russian historian Nikolai Karamzin summed up the situation in his country in two words: "They steal."
They still do, and the news in Russia lately has been dominated by one high-profile corruption scandal after another.
Allegations of wrongdoing have reached high into the defence and agriculture ministries and the Russian space programme, among other institutions. Nearly nine in 10 Russians say corruption is the nation's biggest problem.
The spate of cases has led to a cynical argument among politicians, analysts and people on the street: has President Vladimir Putin, who has long talked about combating corruption, finally turned from words to deeds? Or is the apparent crackdown a mere public relations gambit or, worse, a sign of behind-the-scenes warfare among powerful interests close to the Kremlin?
It may not matter much to Feofan Bondarenko, a pioneering businessman who applauds Putin's apparent campaign against graft even as he finds himself caught up in a nightmarish corruption case.
"I could never imagine," he said, "that I would live to be charged with fraud."
Bondarenko's case reflects not just the depth of corruption but also the shifting nature of its winners and losers.