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Medvedev tells Russia Finance Minister Kudrin to resign Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin resigns
(about 1 hour later)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has told long-serving Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin that he should resign. Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin says he has resigned after receiving a sharp rebuke from President Dmitry Medvedev.
Mr Medvedev had told Mr Kudrin he should resign if he continued to disagree over policy.
Mr Kudrin had earlier said he would not serve in a new government next year if, as expected, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Mr Medvedev switch roles.Mr Kudrin had earlier said he would not serve in a new government next year if, as expected, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Mr Medvedev switch roles.
Mr Kudrin said he had disagreements on economic policy with Mr Medvedev and would consider resigning after consulting Mr Putin.
On Saturday, Mr Putin announced he would run for the presidency in March.On Saturday, Mr Putin announced he would run for the presidency in March.
He served two terms as president before Mr Medvedev took over in 2008. He was barred by the constitution from running for a third consecutive term.He served two terms as president before Mr Medvedev took over in 2008. He was barred by the constitution from running for a third consecutive term.
Mr Medvedev reacted angrily to Mr Kudrin's comments, saying they were "improper.. and can in no way be justified".Mr Medvedev reacted angrily to Mr Kudrin's comments, saying they were "improper.. and can in no way be justified".
He gave the internationally respected finance minister until the end of Monday to resign.He gave the internationally respected finance minister until the end of Monday to resign.
"Nobody has revoked discipline and subordination," Russian news agencies quoted Mr Medvedev as saying, at a meeting of officials in the central Russian city of Volgograd. "Nobody has revoked discipline and subordination," Russian news agencies quoted Mr Medvedev as saying, at a meeting of officials - including Mr Kudrin - in the central Russian city of Volgograd.
"If, Alexei Leonidovich [Kudrin], you disagree with the course of the president, there is only one course of action and you know it: to resign. This is the proposal I make to you.""If, Alexei Leonidovich [Kudrin], you disagree with the course of the president, there is only one course of action and you know it: to resign. This is the proposal I make to you."
"You need to decide quickly what to do and give me an answer today," Mr Medvedev said."You need to decide quickly what to do and give me an answer today," Mr Medvedev said.
'Differences' Mr Kudrin responded: "Yes, it is indeed true that I have disagreements with you. I will take a decision on your proposal after consulting with the prime minister."
Gorbachev concern
Mr Kudrin won plaudits for saving much of Russia's oil revenue in a special fund that helped the country weather the international financial crisis of 2008.Mr Kudrin won plaudits for saving much of Russia's oil revenue in a special fund that helped the country weather the international financial crisis of 2008.
He has opposed plans to achieve higher economic growth through increased government spending.He has opposed plans to achieve higher economic growth through increased government spending.
"I do not see myself in the new government," he was quoted as saying on Sunday."I do not see myself in the new government," he was quoted as saying on Sunday.
"It's not just that nobody offered me anything. I think that the differences that I have will not allow me to be in this government.""It's not just that nobody offered me anything. I think that the differences that I have will not allow me to be in this government."
If Mr Putin wins the presidential election in March, he would be eligible to serve another two full terms, potentially keeping him in office until 2024 and making him the longest-serving Russian ruler since Stalin.If Mr Putin wins the presidential election in March, he would be eligible to serve another two full terms, potentially keeping him in office until 2024 and making him the longest-serving Russian ruler since Stalin.
That prospect has alarmed Mikhail Gorbachev, a former leader of the USSR.That prospect has alarmed Mikhail Gorbachev, a former leader of the USSR.
"We can assume that there will be no movement forward if there are not serious changes along the lines of a replacement of the entire system," he wrote in the opposition Novaya Gazeta newspaper, which he partly owns."We can assume that there will be no movement forward if there are not serious changes along the lines of a replacement of the entire system," he wrote in the opposition Novaya Gazeta newspaper, which he partly owns.
"Without this we could lose six years. I think that the future president needs to think about this very seriously.""Without this we could lose six years. I think that the future president needs to think about this very seriously."