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RUSSIA'S ECONOMY

Russian economy to stay "at the bottom" without reforms — official

"I think that our economy needs certain decisiveness. We postpone important reforms. This will also serve as postponement of economic growth," former Finance Minister Alexey Kurdin said

Former finance minister, chairman of the Committee for Civil Initiatives, Alexei Kudrin Artyom Korotayev/TASS

Former finance minister, chairman of the Committee for Civil Initiatives, Alexei Kudrin

© Artyom Korotayev/TASS

MOSCOW, May 21. /TASS/. Russian economy will not start growing and will remain "at the bottom" if authorities do not start structural reforms, former Finance Minister, deputy chairman of the Presidential Economic Council Alexey Kurdin said on Saturday.

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"We can say that ‘the bottom’ was already passed. It is most likely that we are still somewhere close though. Unfortunately, since the old economic model has expired while the new model has not been formed yet, we will remain ‘at the bottom’ even after passing this ‘bottom’," Kudrin said in the "News on Saturday" TV program.

Kudrin stressed that Russian economy now needs some decisive actions from the authorities. "I think that our economy needs certain decisiveness. We postpone important reforms. This will also serve as postponement of economic growth," he noted.

On Friday Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia passed the bottom of the economic crisis in 2015. Russian Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev noted that Russian economy has emerged from recession over six months ago.

According to Russia’s Rosstat statistics service, the country’s GDP has decreased by 1.2% in physical terms in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the same period of time last year. Russia’s GDP fell by 3.7% in 2015. According to official forecasts, GDP will decrease by 0.2% in 2016 while economy starts to grow already in 2017.

Russian Government Bond Index surpasses 104 points first since September 13

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Ten dead dolphins found in Russia’s Krasnodar region following oil spill

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CIA station in Kiev targeted in recent Russian attack, military expert reveals

According to Alexander Stepanov, strikes are systematic efforts to gradually wipe out the military capabilities of Ukraine

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger reaffirm withdrawal from ECOWAS irreversible

"The College of national leaders considers the attempt to prolong the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS yet another attempt that would allow the French junta and its lackeys to continue planning and carrying out actions, aimed at destabilization of the Sahel Alliance," says the joint statement

IN BRIEF: What is known about drone attack on residential buildings in Kazan

TASS has gathered the main information about the incident

An-2 plane missing in Kamchatka located, survivors found — regional emergencies ministry

According to the press service of the regional Emergencies Ministry, all three people onboard the plane survived the emergency landing

Fico’s visit to Russia perfect slap in Zelensky’s face, Slovak politician says

The MEP said that Fico stands for Slovak interests in Russia, "even in spite of the warmongers in Brussels"

Envoy blasts Berlin’s move to declare Russian TV reporters security threat as politicized

According to Sergey Nechayev, several other Russian reporters officially accredited by Germany are also encountering issues

Slovak PM thanks Putin in Russian for meeting with him

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Putin responds to question about Russia's weakness by quoting Mark Twain

The president noted that Russia had become much stronger over the past two or three years as it became a truly sovereign country

Putin, Slovak PM discuss bilateral relations, energy — Kremlin

Dmitry Peskov remarked that Russian-Slovak bilateral relations had significantly deteriorated due to actions taken by the previous Slovak leadership

AI can help generate personalized cancer vaccines in an hour — Russia’s vaccine chief

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No real impulses for organization of Putin-Trump meeting so far — Kremlin spokesman

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Ukraine's refusal to transit Russian gas will hit EU economies hard — French expert

According to Jacques Sapir, the decision not to extend transit contracts was no surprise given the political landscape

Russian forces control more than half of Chasov Yar in DPR — expert

Andrey Marochko noted that Russian forces had "slightly advanced" in the northern and southern parts of Chasov Yar

Russia has confidence in its weapons, senior diplomat says

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov also stressed that the recent developments had shown that the US policy of establishing a system of increasingly layered missile defenses was wrong

Putin to extend New Year greetings to peoples of several unfriendly countries — Kremlin

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Crew, passenger of An-2 plane crashed in Kamchatka satisfactory — medics

All three of them are in satisfactory condition, but it is too early to talk about their discharge, the regional hospital staff said

Serbia will never joint anti-Russian sanctions, deputy prime minister vows

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Ukrainian troops attempt counterattacks on Vasilyevka direction in Zaporozhye Region

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Top Turkish diplomat calls for listing anti-Syrian sanctions

According to Hakan Fidan, during his contacts with al-Sharaa he "saw the Syrian leadership’s strong will and commitment in this area,"

Ukraine to halt Russian gas transit on January 1, 2025 — Ukrainian PM

The restart of transit via the Ukrainian gas transportation system is possible at a request of the European Commission if this is not Russian gas, Denis Shmygal said

Russia considers launching direct flights with Brazil, Malaysia, Pakistan — Minister

Roman Starovoyt noted that Russia is holding negotiations with many airlines from friendly countries

Baltic states threaten mass deportation of Russians, take lead in Russophobia — statement

The Foreign Ministry noted that the facts of discrimination and persecution of Russians are often ignored by the official leadership of countries and international human rights agencies, leading many victims to remain silent

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Hungary wants to maintain ties with Russia under its economic neutrality policy — PM

Victor Orban also said that hopes for the development of economic cooperation with the United States after President-elect Donald Trump takes office

Commander Makarov was killed in fighting to repel Ukrainian attack — ministry

Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov also informed of the death of the deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, who led the efforts of the personnel

US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

According to US Central Command, the incident occurred during airstrikes on Houthi facilities

Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger take armies to maximum alert — declaration

"The College of national leaders closely follows the deceiving maneuvers, initiated by the French junta, who declares the shutdown of its military bases only to replace them with another, less visible mechanism, which pursues the same neo-colonial goal," says the statement

Trump appoints TV producer Burnett as special envoy to UK

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Moldovan president plans military operation in Transnistria — Russian intel agency

According to the SVR, Maia Sandu recently convened a meeting on energy security issues with senior government officials

Kiev to face more destruction after its UAV attack on Kazan, Putin warns

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Turkish president calls on West to stop Israel in Syria before it’s too late

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Germany does not keep substantive contacts with Russia on Nord Stream case — envoy

"How much longer it will last remains to be seen," Sergey Nechaev noted

Assad allegedly hands list of military targets over to Israel before leaving Syria — media

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Drone attack triggers fire at fuel infrastructure facility in Russia’s Oryol Region

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Arkhangelsk nuclear submarine ready to join Russian Navy — Sevmash Shipyard CEO

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Ukraine may cease to exist by 2034 — Russian security official

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Oreshnik’s launch is sudden, undetectable by satellites — analyst

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Ukrainian army launches long-range missiles at Donetsk

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Group of foreign mercenaries taken out in Velikaya Novosyolka in Donbass region

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Topic of Russian gas transit expected to be discussed by Putin, Slovak PM

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Situation with gas supplies from Russia to Europe difficult — Kremlin

"You have heard the Ukrainian side’s statement and you know the position of the European countries that continue purchasing Russian gas and that consider it necessary for normal operation of their economy," Dmitry Peskov said

Press review: Who benefits from Russian general's murder as Trump lacks Kremlin strategy

Top stories from the Russian press on Wednesday, December 18th

Russian 'soldier of the future' combat gear tested in Syria

The Ratnik is a system of advanced protective and communication equipment, weapons and ammunition

NATO spies study damage from Oreshnik at Yuzhmash — expert

Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Tehran, Moscow could sign partnership agreement in January 2025 — Iranian MFA

"This will be done at a bilateral meeting in the coming future," Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said

Damage to Portuguese Embassy in Kiev caused by Ukrainian air defense — Russian diplomats

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Father of conscript who killed 8 in Siberia asks son to cooperate with investigators

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Putin opens new transport infrastructure sites in Russian regions via video link

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