Talking to Gaidar: From the hot seat

OUR interview with the Russian deputy prime minister took place at a turning-point. Two weeks before, the Group of Seven largest industrial economies had offered his country a $24 billion aid package, conditional on its implementing the reforms of which Mr Gaidar was the architect. The government had just tendered its resignation, to increase pressure on its opponents in the Russian parliament. He did not know whether the parliament, the Congress of People's Deputies, would back down from its demands that the reforms be diluted. On April 22nd he was due to attend the interim committee of the International Monetary Fund that would welcome Russia into the world economy.