RIA Novosti: Putin says no need to worry about Russian economy

(RIA Novosti – August 18, 2015)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Russians not to worry about the country’s economy, because the government is monitoring the situation around the clock, RIA Novosti reported on 18 August.

“Everyone is on the job; the government is managing the economy, on a daily and hourly basis. We don’t let anything out of sight, so there is no need to worry on that score,” Putin said during a working visit to Crimea.

Asked whether his trip to Crimea was diverting him from the current situation in Russia and the world, and the main agenda, Putin said: “You can see, yesterday I met with the leaders of public organizations for who Crimea is a pretty important, I mean from a national point of view.”

“We also (dealt with) development of such important economic spheres as tourism. Today, the Russian Geographical Society’s 174th birthday, is aimed at reviving interest in national history, tomorrow we will be dealing with issues regarding national security,” he said.

Putin said he had spoken today with Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on economic issues, and said the cabinet would pay the necessary attention to those matters, including the rouble exchange rate, privately-owned Interfax news agency reported.

“I know this is of the utmost importance to the government and it pays the utmost attention to it,” he said, adding that there would be no special discussion of economic matters during his stay in Crimea.