Medvedev criticizes major Russian problems in article

MOSCOW, Sept. 10 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday said economic backwardness and corruption were the country's key problems and urged Russians to become more involved in overcoming them.

Medvedev, in an article for the news website Gazeta.ru, said the global economic crisis had revealed that everything was far from fine.

"Twenty years of drastic reforms have not made our country less dependent on commodity exports. Our current economy has preserved the Soviet economic system's worst flaw - a severe disregard for people's needs," he said in the article.

The president attributed corruption to excessive state control over the economy, adding that business was to blame as well.

"Business leaders, instead of looking for a talented workforce, introducing unique technologies and launching new products, seek access to financial flows and ownership of property by bribing officials," he said.

Medvedev lashed out at the widespread paternalistic mindset, an expectation that all problems should be resolved by the state or someone else.

"Hence, the lack of initiative, the shortage of fresh ideas, unresolved problems, the low quality of public debates, including critical statements," he said.

"Social consent and support are usually manifested in silence. Quite often emotional, biting criticism turns out to be superficial and irresponsible," he added.

Medvedev reaffirmed his focus on high technology development as a key to economic growth, democracy and freedom.

"The 'smarter' our economy will be, the higher living standards our citizens will enjoy. This will make our political system and society in general more liberated, just and humane," he said.