Oleg Deripaska proposed to cut officials and security forces to save the economy

And at the same time he warned that “there will be no money next year.”

Deripaska voiced his reformist ideas at the Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum. The businessman said that “state capitalism is a path to nowhere,” and Russia needs a market economy with competition, foreign investors (from “friendly countries”) and the rule of law. Also, according to Deripaska, it is time for the country to get rid of some of the officials and security forces:

“Somehow they need to be reduced. Light stress – it always helps. Reduction of officials by two or three times, law enforcement officers – a couple of times. We understand that this is a serious burden for the economy, and even more so for the economy, which is weighed down by sanctions.”

Krasnoyarsk Governor Alexander Uss, who was sitting next to Deripaska, responded to this speech by saying that he was “ready to downsize.”