The key facts
- Volodin called it unfair that Gorbachev received the Nobel Prize while Siluanov did not
- Siluanov's candidacy for the post of deputy prime minister — finance minister was submitted to the State Duma on October 19 and was unanimously supported by the relevant committee
- Gorbachev received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his role in changing relations between East and West
Volodin's statement
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin told journalists that Finance Minister Anton Siluanov made a greater contribution to strengthening the country than the last leader of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, even though it was Gorbachev who received the Nobel Prize. 'Siluanov does everything to make the country stronger, while Gorbachev broke it apart. Gorbachev was given the Nobel Prize, but Siluanov was not. That's unfair. If you assess the contribution, then, of course, Siluanov's is greater than Gorbachev's,' Life.ru quoted the speaker as saying.
Context: Siluanov's appointment
The statement came amid discussion of Siluanov's candidacy for the post of deputy prime minister — finance minister. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin proposed promoting the head of the Finance Ministry while retaining his position; the submission was sent to the State Duma on October 19. The next day, the relevant committee unanimously supported the candidacy. Committee Chairman Andrei Makarov noted the minister's ability to find solutions in difficult economic conditions.
Gorbachev's Nobel Prize
Mikhail Gorbachev became a laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. The Norwegian Nobel Committee cited his role in changing relations between East and West in the final period of the Cold War.
