Kudrin: Change in Russian Leadership Key to Better Business Climate

By Reuters

Sep. 19, 2014

Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin. Sergei Porter / Vedomosti

Russia's investment climate will not improve unless there are changes in the country's leadership and political will for such an improvement, former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said on Friday.

Kudrin, who was forced to resign from his post in 2011 after protesting against increased defense spending, played a key role in restoring the country's finances in the 2000s after the chaotic leadership of late Russian President Boris Yeltsin.

"Without a refreshing of the team and political will, nothing will change in this (investment climate) matter," Kudrin said on the sidelines of an economic conference in Russia's southern city of Sochi.

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