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Ex-finance minster plans to create fund in support of civic initiatives

The fund will be financed from sponsors' contributions

St.PETERSBURG, April 12 (Itar-Tass) —— Ex-finance minister Alexei Kudrin intends to create a fund registered in his name which will ensure technical support to a Committee of civic initiatives, which establishment Alexei Kudrin had initiated earlier, Kudrin declared at a meeting with the supporters of the establishment of this committee in St. Petersburg on Thursday.

"I am establishing my fund - a non-commerce organization which will perform technical tasks - such as making payments to experts, preparing documents and doing the assigned research," Kudrin said. Documents on the establishment of the Kudrin Fund in support of civic initiatives have already been submitted to the Justice Ministry. The fund will be financed from sponsors' contributions.

The task of the Committee which Alexei Kudrin is establishing is "to create an infrastructure for support to civic initiatives, openly challenge the authorities irrespective of personalities and posts they occupy and offer alternative ways of settlement of political, economic and social problems," the organizers said.

"Our main task is to create a community of professional, initiative people capable to advocate ideas on any level of power," Kudrin said after Thursday's meeting.

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