Russia: Once again “the worst is over”

The Russian economy has responded positively to Boris Yeltsin’s retirement and to a commodity boom. Can the bullish mood last or will reform get bogged down and Vladimir Putin’s “strong government” put a straitjacket on enterprise? And does finance minister Mikhail Kasyanov have the breadth of experience to control the economy? We also look at Alfa, the only Russian bank to come out of the crisis stronger than it went in.

There’s good news from Russia. The economy is growing, albeit from a low base, and with high world commodity prices, public Finances haven’t looked this good for years. With a young healthy president just shooed into office, leading companies are cleaning up their act and the Kremlin has said – for the umpteenth time – “the worst is over”. Russia restructures: but is anyone going to believe it this time round?

Following Boris Yeltsin’s resignation, things could only get better.

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