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Kudrin Denies Report of Offer to Head Regulator

Former Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin denied a news agency report that he had been offered the post of head of a proposed financial super-regulator.

The government is considering a merger of the Federal Service for Financial Markets and the Central Bank to concentrate the regulation of financial markets and banks in one institution.

On Monday, RIA-Novosti reported that Kudrin had been offered the job, citing the former minister himself.

"The information that appeared in the media yesterday … is wrong. I did not get such an offer," Kudrin said on his Twitter account, @Aleksei_Kudrin.

Other Russian media reports in recent weeks had said the government may tap Kudrin for the new position.

Kudrin resigned in 2011 after Vladimir Putin announced he would seek a third term as president and swap roles with Dmitry Medvedev, who became prime minister.

He remains influential, supporting opposition protests demanding free and fair elections.

Kudrin has said he would not serve under Medvedev and has criticized the government for failing to pass reforms that would encourage investment in modernization and diversification of the economy.

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