Word: illarionov
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...Always a maverick, he had called for a sharp devaluation of the Russian ruble before the August 1998 financial meltdown. Illarionov is also credited with playing an important role in making the 13 percent flat income tax a reality. From the outset of Putin?s presidency, Illarionov struggled to curb state interference in the economy and oppose the monopolist economic policies of natural gas, electricity and railway corporations...
...Illarionov?s recent criticism of Putin had put him in the cross hairs, and he was being eased out of office. He was stripped of his crucial job as Russia's envoy to the G-8, and his Kremlin staff had been gradually reduced. But it was Illarionov who took the final step to resign this week. In a lengthy interview with TIME, Illarionov sat down to discuss his decision to leave office, the tense situation in Ukraine and his harsh criticism of the current administration...
...Illarionov: The process of this state evolving into a new corporativist (sic) model reached its completion in 2005. Quantitative changes have evolved into qualitative ones. The Freedom House best summed it up six months ago, when it downgraded Russia to "completely unfree" from "partially unfree." My job assumed the ability to hold free public discussions of ongoing processes. My willing suspension of this ability would have been a gross dereliction of official and professional duties on my part. I chose to resign instead...
...Illarionov: We talked one day before I resigned. However, I have never commented on my relationship with the President while I worked for him, nor do I intend...
...Illarionov: The economy is doing fine-if you gauge it in traditional ways. The growth of GDP is 6.2%, which is good. The market is growing. Russia's state foreign debt has been brought down to $86 billion. This is 11% to 12% of the GDP versus 96% six years ago. But do we compare Russia to developed countries or to a country like China that has the GDP growth of 9%-or oil producers like Azerbaijan with 12%, or Kazakhstan with 19%. This way, we see that Russia's achievement is more than modest. Under oil windfall profits, Russia...