"The challenges have not changed. The pandemic brings a great deal of uncertainty. No one knows how it will develop, and it is hard even to forecast. The psychological instability has subsided somewhat in August, because everyone is on vacation. August is not the best time for offensives, so I do not think anything like that will happen.
The economy will be waiting to see how the pandemic develops. If economic policy improved, it might revive the country. But parliament has gone on recess, so nothing will happen.
Nevertheless, tax policy toward business has to change. We need to create a Bureau of Financial Investigations, take economic functions away from those for whom they are not appropriate, and reduce the range of tasks prosecutors handle. We have 10,000 prosecutors, while there should be two to three times fewer, as in Europe or the US.
Ours is an overregulated country. Much of what is in state ownership needs to be sold, because it drains money from the budget. We need a clear, comprehensive program for selling off state-owned enterprises, because there is huge money there.
On the other hand, the way state-owned enterprises are financed needs to change. Management pay should be tied to profit. If management does not generate a profit, it does not get a bonus or is removed. That is how large corporations do it, and these are normal market rules that state-owned companies need as well."