Mikhail Kasyanov

As a result, Russia, for the first time since 1913 issued securities, eurobonds on the capital markets of Europe and the United States, and Russian banks and companies were able to take cheap foreign capital for investments into the economy of the country.

Joining the Red Army, his father participated in some major actions of the Second World War and fought until the victory in 1945.

Kasyanov's mother was an economist, a head of a department of a governmental construction company (Glavmosstroy).

In his childhood Mikhail studied at a music school and played the cello.

In high school he played in a rock group.

Mikhail Mikhailovich Kasyanov (Михаи́л Миха́йлович Касья́нов; born 8 December 1957) is a Russian politician who served as Prime Minister of Russia from 2000 to 2004.

Kasyanov was born on 8 December 1957 in the settlement of Solntsevo near Moscow.

His father was a teacher of mathematics and the headmaster of a local school.

In 1974 Kasyanov entered the Moscow Automobile and Road Construction University.

In 1976–1978, he served in the Soviet Army in the guard of honour at the Office of the Commandant of Moscow, which is today the Kremlin Regiment of the Federal Protective Service.

From 1978–1981, he became a technician and then an engineer at the scientific institute of the State Committee for Construction of USSR.

At the time he was still studying at the Moscow Automobile and Road Construction University.

He finished in 1981.

For nine years after graduation Kasyanov worked at the State Planning Committee (GosPlan) as an engineer, economist, leading specialist and chief of sector.

In 1987 he was awarded the diploma of the Highest Economy Courses at GosPlan.

During the 1990s, he worked in President Boris Yeltsin's administration in different positions before joining President Vladimir Putin's first administration.

He has the federal state civilian service rank of 1st class Active State Councillor of the Russian Federation.

Since leaving the government over disagreements on economic policy, he has become one of the leading critics of President Putin and an opposition leader.

In 1990–1993, Kasyanov was working in the State Committee of Economy of the Russian Federation and then in the Ministry of Economy.

In 1993 the Minister of Finance Boris Fyodorov invited Kasyanov to join the Ministry.

He was appointed the head of Foreign Loans and External Debt Department.

In 1994–1996, Kasyanov was occupied with the restructuring of Soviet externals debts (about $150 bn).

In 1995 Kasyanov became the deputy Minister of Finance.

In 1996 Kasyanov reached an agreement with the Paris Club and the London Club of creditors for a comprehensive restructuring of Soviet debts for a period of 25 years with a 7-year grace period.

Thanks to this agreement Russia was able to gain access to international capital markets.

In 1996 Kasyanov gave the road show of Russia's economy development prospects at various International finance centers.

In 1998, the global financial crisis started and the Russian government defaulted on its debts, ruble was dramatically devaluated.

Kasyanov was the head of the working team for restructuring Russian government external debts and of the private banks of the country.

At the same time he negotiated with Russian creditors for restructuring domestic debts.

Kasyanov negotiated with the International Monetary Fund which granted favorable perspectives for reaching profitable agreements for Russia.

As a result of this, the ruble rate was stabilised, which in its own turn helped reduce the inflation and restored production and services parts of Russian economy.

These successes proved Kasyanov to be a good negotiator: he was called "the principal financial diplomat of the country".

In February 1999 he was appointed First Deputy Minister and in May 1999 President Yeltsin appointed Kasyanov Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation.

In June 1999, Minister Kasyanov became a member of the Security Council of Russia.

Previously, he had served as First Deputy Prime Minister in 2000 and Minister of Finance from 1999 to 2000.

From 2005 to 2007, he was one of the leaders of the opposition coalition The Other Russia and democratic protest movement.

In 2008, Kasyanov was a candidate in the election of President of Russia but in the middle of the campaign was denied participation on political grounds.

In 2010, he co-founded the coalition People's Freedom Party "For Russia without Lawlessness and Corruption" and became one of the leaders of the People's Freedom Party.

He was an active speaker during the 2011–2013 Russian protests for fair elections.

Since 2015, he has served as the leader of the political party People's Freedom Party (PARNAS).