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Russian Deputy PM Mutko says ready to resign ‘if it is for somebody’s benefit’

Mutko’s statement comes in the wake of the IOC's decision to bar the national Russian team from the 2018 Winter Olympics
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko  Vitaly Nevar/TASS
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko
© Vitaly Nevar/TASS

MOSCOW, December 7. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Thursday he was ready to resign from his post any moment if it is done for ‘somebody’s benefit and it is necessary.’

Mutko’s statement comes in the wake of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision to bar the national Russian team from the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea’s PyeongChang, to ban for life Mutko from attending Olympic events in his official capacity and to introduce some other restrictions in regard to some other Russian Olympic and sports officials.

"Let us not be talking about this issue (on the resignation) at the moment," Mutko, who oversees the issues of sports, tourism and youth affairs in the Russian government, told journalists. "You all have known me for ages and you know that I am ready for this (to resign) at any moment, if it is for somebody’s benefit and it is necessary."