The author reflects on the challenges of modernization and on the problems of development of democracy in Russia. What gave occasion for the author’s reflections was the recent appearance of the book by O. and M.Afanasievs: “Our Access to the State Information”. The problem of access to information is directly connected with the prospects of our country’s development and of the modernization proclaimed by the authority. In particular, in the two authors’ opinion, it is indispensable to implant and consolidate this institution for whatever success in the struggle against corruption threatening to make impossible any modernization whatsoever.