The directors thought, They understand nothing in the real economy, in real life. They read some stupid books, and they came from the moon to the earth, and maybe in one month they will disappear.

During the Soviet era, private ownership was a crime punishable with up to five years in prison.

The Moscow energy system has never sustained such a load.

40 million Russians are convinced that I am a scoundrel, a thief, a criminal or a CIA agent, who deserves to be shot, hanged or drawn and quartered.

For the whole of Western Europe, I know the business community quite good.

In 1995 the whole political situation was very complicated. I was the first deputy prime minister, and at the same time I had very low influence in the government.

You're never able to please everybody, especially when you're transforming a country like Russia.