No the state official, Kommersant reported, has dared criticize the current switch in Russia's economic and political line so bluntly yet. The question is: why has Illarionov not indicated his opposition to the current political course before? Perhaps, the presidential adviser decided to do so now because the changes in Russia are reaching a larger scale? In late September, the newspaper reported, he suddenly stood up against the replacement of gubernatorial elections with governor appointments. The economic adviser had never voiced his opinion on purely political issues, particularly his criticism, before.
Most likely, Andrei Illarionov made this decision after Vladimir Putin approved of Russia's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol - something that the adviser vigorously opposed. This was Mr. Illarionov's failure, not so much as a politician but as an international lobbyist. Indeed, other influential people - the world's leading producers of hydrogen sulphide raw materials, which will drop in demand after the Kyoto Protocol comes into force - oppose restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions.
