Chairman of the Board of the Center for Strategic Research Alexey Kudrin proposed the Association of Russian Bankers (ARB) to change the leader in a democratic way. This, according to the ex-finance minister, would have allowed to avoid the conflict situation that led to the withdrawal from the organization of the largest Russian banks.

"Of course, it would be better if, as a result of democratic re-election, the head replaced the head. I think that it was time to change the leader, therefore, on the one hand, this conflict is clear to me. It's a pity that this led to the exit (leading banks) from the association, "- quotes Kudrin RIA Novosti.

According to the economist, there are no grounds for sadness, since the creation of a new association, announced by the banks that left ARB, is "a good step". The weakness of the new organization Kudrin called the fact that it will be collected only by large banks with large state participation or okolosudarstvennye banks. "But, I hope, this defect will also be exhausted with time, when other banks enter there," the expert added..

The problem is that between large and medium-sized banks there is often a conflict of interest. "But it's normal for different groups of banks to find their niche or their own form of organization to protect their interests. I am normal to this process, because the association is a voluntary union, "Kudrin pointed out..

On Monday, July 17, it was announced that the eight largest Russian banks - Sberbank, VTB, VTB 24, Rosselkhozbank, Gazprombank, Alfa-Bank, FC Otkritie and Binbank - reported leaving the ARB because of disagreement With the management of the organization. The protest of financial organizations was caused by a number of theses on the activities of the Central Bank for the purification of the banking sector, which were contained in the annual report of the association.

In an open letter, the banks also said that the effectiveness of the union fell through the fault of its head Karekin Tosunyan, which deprives large players of participating in the management of the association. "The responsibility for the situation is borne by the president of the association, which in its activities has largely guided by personal interests," - said representatives of financial organizations.

At the same time, Tosunyan said that the withdrawal of the main players from the association, although painful, will not affect the work of the union anyway. "The Association values ??every member. And, of course, leaving any member - this is always painful for the association, regardless of whether it is a large or not large. But globally on the activities of the association, I think that should not affect.

But it will decide the council, how it will affect, "- said the banker.

The banks that left the association stated that they are participating in the discussion of the creation of a new association, which is intended to be an alternative to the ARB. According to representatives of Alfa-Bank, the situation in the organization was so launched that simply replacing the leadership of the association will not allow one-time solution of all the issues that have accumulated during its existence.