Dmitri Medvedev stepped up what can only be considered his campaign against Putin and Putinism by emphasizing Russia’s dismal economic performance in 2009, and placing blame for the country’s economic malaise on its energy export dependence:

Russia’s economy may contract by a “very serious” 7.5 percent this year as dependence on energy exports left the country more vulnerable to the global financial crisis than expected, President Dmitry Medvedev said.

'As far as I am concerned, this is ... the most complex crisis we've ever seen due to the number of factors in play'
Spanish Economy Minister Pedro Solbes speaking to the Spanish radio station Punto Radio September 2008

“‘The global imbalances have to add up to zero and so, if the US is going to be less the consumer importer of last resort, then other countries are going to need to be in different positions as well."
Director of the US president’s National Economic Council Larry Summers, speaking over lunch with the FT’s Chrystia Freeland.

As the “R” in BRIC emerging markets, Russia has been one of the hottest places for overseas capital flows in the last ten years. Between 1997 and 2007, capital inflows to the country rose from $4.8 billion to over $50 billion: an all time record.