Re-privatising Russia’s economy / Kremlin gives nod to $29bn sell-off

Editorial. Alexei Kudrin, Russia's Finance Minister, proposed July 2010 that Russia should sell minority stakes in 10 state-controlled corporate jewels, including oil company Rosneft, VTB Bank, and the Russian Railways monopoly, totalling perhaps $29bn. It would be Russia’s biggest asset sell-off since the botched loans-for-shares privatisations of the 1990s. Editorial argues that the proposal should be supported. But this time, it also needs to do it right.

ESO: Background information: Moscow plans to privatise public assets http://www.europeansources.info/record/moscow-plans-to-privatise-public-assets/

BBC News, 28.7.10: Russia in $30bn asset sale plan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-10794780

Reuters, 28.7.10: Russia to sell $29 billion state assets on market http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66R4H020100728

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