26 September 2003 03:31
Putin against reverse of Russian privatization
New York, 25 September: Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke today against reviewing of the results of Russian
privatization.
"If we start reconsideration of the results [of privatization], the harm done by re-distribution of property
would be bigger than the harm done by privatization itself," Putin said answering the questions by students and
faculty of Columbia University.
The idea is floating around to grant amnesty not to concrete persons involved in criminal cases in connection with
privatization, but to privatization in general, an amnesty to capitals, Putin said. "It is a good idea. The main
thing is how to implement it legally and politically correctly, so that society accepted this solution and agreed with
it," he said. "It is not an easy task," he added.
[Russian news agency Interfax, Moscow, in Russian, at 2207 gmt 25 Sep 03 quoted Putin as saying to the same effect
that "large-scale sellout of state property was not always based on common sense and economic reasons, quite often
this was being done for political reasons." It was done in order "to create a social class that would defend
its gains and stop Russia from returning into the past", he said. "The vast majority [of Russians] sees this
way of privatization as unjust," he said. "I am against deprivatization, nationalization," he added.
]
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
