Aleksei Kudrin, the former super-liberal finance minister who is now Head of Russia’s Accounts Chamber, just published an article suggesting “that the state sector of the economy in the country be reduced through privatization,” TASS reported. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded promptly on Tuesday with a polite, but sharp rebuke:
“So far, as you know, no decisions have been made in this regard, though there are various viewpoints… [Kudrin] is a person who was acknowledged as the country’s best finance minister for many years. That is why his viewpoint is important, of course. That said, you know that there are other expert points of view as well… Privatization as a process is important, though it should not be an absolute goal in itself.”
Peskov added that in its recent history, Russia has repeatedly faced situations “when as a result of privatization whole sectors of industry neared extinction, requiring huge efforts to be consolidated by the state and revived virtually from zero through enormous investment.”
