MOSCOW — Russia will push forward swiftly with radical economic change under newly elected President Vladimir V. Putin, the man in charge of setting the new policy said Thursday.
At a Moscow news conference, think tank chief German O. Gref promised an ambitious strategy to continue Russia's transition to a market system, including tax reform, restructuring of the banking system, land privatization and reform of the justice system and the army.
He said Putin's approach on economic growth is "rather radical."
Since his election Sunday as Russian president, Putin has made no major policy announcements or dramatic changes of personnel, but he has sent out several firm signals that appear designed to sketch out the direction in which he intends to take the country.
Putin enhanced his reputation for toughness in the war against Chechnya. Now he is indicating that he intends to be just as tough-minded on economic policy. And although the West has criticized his handling of the war, Putin's readiness to move swiftly on the economy is likely to be met with approval.
The president-elect had made it clear Monday that he will wage war until the rebels in the separatist republic are vanquished, lauding the Interior Ministry for its "brilliant" role in the Chechen war.
But Thursday, there were signs he is more willing to respond to Western human rights concerns about Chechnya. Putin agreed to allow the Red Cross access to the controversial "filtration" camps--the prisons for Chechen rebel suspects where torture and rape have reportedly occurred. The organization also will be able to deliver humanitarian aid.
Putin appointed Gref, an ally from St. Petersburg, to head the Center for Strategic Studies last year, ordering it to come up with a hefty document outlining an economic plan for Russia. This week, Putin ordered the group to complete its report by the end of April.
With the document still being prepared and due for release after the formation of a new government in May, Gref provided only sketchy insights into the plan's details Thursday.
He said the document will have an estimated 300 pages and "as for the parameters of the program--they are very tough."
"Our task is to accomplish a transition to a normal, market-oriented state within the shortest possible time," Gref said. The strategy "provides for a breakthrough scenario of Russia's development and the implementation of as radical reforms as possible to enable us to make Russia's economy manageable and market-oriented in the shortest possible time."
