Kudrin predicts Russia’s ‘evolutionary’ liberalization

MOSCOW. Nov 19 (Interfax) – Former Russian finance minister Alexei Kudrin, who today heads a nongovernmental organization called Civil Initiatives Committee, has practically ruled out the possibility of Russia resorting to a revolution to change its established political practices and argued that an “evolutionary path through increasing freedom” is more likely.

“I think that there is practically no reason” to expect a revolution in Russia, Kudrin told the Finam FM radio. “I think that we most likely face an evolutionary path through increasing freedom. Those who are prepared to take this path have better prospects.”

Kudrin took issue with the widespread view that the protest movement has been defeated.

“Protests haven’t been crushed – they were different, aimed at quicker change. However, this path has to take a lot longer. We underestimate the fact that a new law on parties has come out. The situation is getting better. It’s unlikely to be a one-cycle process. There’ll be a lot of bruises at the next parliamentary elections, but the situation will keep changing until the new system is established definitively. This doesn’t mean we’ll be able to change everything in two or three years. In my view, it’ll take from 20 to 30 years for this new system to get established,” he said.