Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said Monday he believed Russia shouldn't be excessively protectionist but said sometimes it should use protective measures to support its economy, according to the Prime-Tass news agency.
"Protectionism aggravates the crisis," Kudrin, who is also a deputy prime minister, said in an interview with English-language television network Russia Today. "That's why an increase in protectionism is an obstacle."
He said, however, he thought protectionism shouldn't be fully abandoned.
"There are situations when the domestic industry should be supported," he said.