Russia

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Saturday strongly backed President Dmitry Medvedev's call for radical economic modernization, in an apparent bid to smother talk of differences between the leaders. Medvedev had in a state-of-the-nation address on November 12 made his strongest call yet for Russia to end its dependence on oil exports and modernize its economy, in a speech some analysts saw as a challenge to Putin. "I am sure that this call reflects the mood of all of Russian society," Putin said in a keynote speech to the annual congress of the ruling United Russia party in Saint Petersburg. "The crisis, with all its ... Read Full Story

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday vowed to continue Russia's anti-crisis program as the economy moves out of one of the deepest recessions in post-Soviet history. Putin, speaking at a congress of his United Russia party in Russia's northern city of St Petersburg, said gross domestic product would decline by 8.0 to 8.5 percent in 2009. But the former Kremlin chief said Russia must fully restore pre-crisis levels of growth in two to three years and added that he saw cargo turnover and electricity demand rising in 2010. Putin said Russia would widen its anti-crisis program for carmakers and ... Read Full Story

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - President Dmitry Medvedev on Saturday criticized regional officials in Russia's ruling party for failing to ensure fully democratic local elections last month. "The party must always be modern so as not to grow old, not to become removed from life, from its own electorate," Medvedev told a United Russia party congress in the city of St Petersburg. "Unfortunately, some regional branches of both United Russia and other parties,... show that very backwardness... Elections supposed to be the expression of the people's will as a result are sometimes turned into affairs where democratic procedures are mixed up with administrative ones." ... Read Full Story

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says Russia must modernize its economy and reduce its dependence on raw materials exports. Putin's call for developing high-tech industries echoes statements by his successor and protege, President Dmitry Medvedev. Putin and Medvedev both attended Saturday's meeting of the dominant United Russia party in St. Petersburg. United Russia is a power base for Putin, who has not ruled out a return to the presidency in 2012. Putin has praised Medvedev's recent state-of-the-nation speech that focused on industrial modernization. Putin has also taken the credit for recent signs of economic recovery and pledged that his Cabinet would continue to support industries ... Read Full Story

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev criticized Kremlin policies Friday and toyed with the ambitious idea of attempting a political comeback. Gorbachev said that corruption and overdependence on oil exports have aggravated the impact of the global economic crisis on Russia. He urged President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to restructure the economy, cut down government spending and ensure political freedoms. But he also suggested everyday Russians must shake their reliance on government largesse that has been boosted by energy price hikes during the past decade. "We have paternalistic expectations of government support," he told a conference at his charitable foundation. "The price ... Read Full Story