International sanctions against Russia may continue in the nearest years.

      This was stated by the Minister of Economic Development Aleksei Ulyukayev. “Macroeconomic forecast is based on the fact that the sanctions regime will continue in 2015 and in the following years” - the agency quotes his words. Ulyukayev added that the Russian economy would grow by an average of 2.5-3 percent in the years 2016-2018.

      “We are basing on the fact that the next year will be the beginning of recovery growth” - the official noted. Earlier the Minister admitted that the restrictions might stay effective until 2017. According to him, in 2014 the Ministry of Economic Development predicted that the sanctions would be lifted in 2015 and calculated the budget based on that assumption. “But hypothetically that decision may be extended. Now the calculations should be based on the fact that the sanctions regime will presumably be effective in 2015, 2016, 2017” - the Minister stated.