In light of the many comments about my resignation, I would like to clarify the following. My statement that I do not see myself as part of the 2012 cabinet is deliberate and well considered. First. For several months, despite my numerous objections, including public ones, decisions were made in budget policy that undoubtedly increased the risks to budget execution. And those budget risks, tied above all to inflated commitments in the defense sector and the social sphere, would inevitably have spread to the entire national economy. In February of this year, I discussed my wish to resign with the Prime Minister. At that time, my resignation was deemed undesirable, including because of the acute situation created by the fact that this year's budget process overlapped with the election process. At the same time, my participation in the future configuration of the executive branch of the Russian Federation was not discussed. Second. On September 24, the structure of power in our country was determined for the long term. I made my own decision as well, and explained my position. Emotion has absolutely nothing to do with it. Third. The supposedly existing possibility of heading Right Cause (a Russian political party) did not in fact exist for me. I did not consider participating in an artificial project that, in practice, discredits the liberal-democratic idea. Fourth, though not lastly. I am grateful to everyone expressing support for me today. I am also grateful to those who, over the past two days, have given me invaluable bureaucratic, political, and life experience. A. Kudrin I have never felt any particular enthusiasm for Kudrin: his record as chairman of the board of directors of VTB, the most corrupt and thieving bank in the country, still needs to be examined. And yet, one cannot deny that he possesses such a simple and important quality as human dignity. A rare thing these days, when all "Kremlin politics" is built on endless self-abasement, servility, and bootlicking at every level of power.
People