Putin Boots A Reformer

Vladimir Putin was already going to have a hard time making the case that Russia is worthy of the leadership of the G-8, which it will take for the first time this year. But no one will be giving him the benefit of the doubt after the dramatic resignation of his economic adviser, the outspoken liberal reformer Andrei Illarionov, 44. The economist, a Kremlin maverick, fought to curb state interference in the economy, particularly in the energy sector. But with Moscow tightening its grip on oil and natural gas, Illarionov was recently stripped of a key post with the G-8 and...

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