Putin promises to support business

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with business officials at the Yekaterininsky Hall of the Kremlin that the government will stay in close contact with entrepreneurs. He emphasized the need for diversification of the economy. Russia is capable of solving its economic problems, the president believes.

One of the initiatives to overcome outstanding ordeals is amnesty of capital.

41 companies were invited for the presidential meeting. Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the head of the Sistema company is among them. Putin expressed readiness to meet with leading businessmen yesterday, mentioning that Yevtushenkov was invited. The latter is involved in a criminal case on theft of shares from an energy company in Bashkiria. He was released from house arrest this week.

Gazprom, Rosneft, VEB and VTB Bank are not taking part in the meeting. Sberbank is represented by advisor Ruben Vardanyan, not the bank's head German Gref. The government is represented by Sergey Ivanov, the head of the Presidential Administration, Igor Shuvalov, vice prime minister, Andrey Belousov, the president's aide, and Elvira Nabiullina, the head of the Central Bank.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov concluded that the talks concerned offshore enterprises, amnesty of capital and currency rates.