KHABAROVSK, Russia, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin says he expects the country's Foreign Intelligence Service to help modernize Russia's economy.
"At a time when we are facing a problem related to modernization of the economy, assistance from the intelligence services is not superfluous," Putin said in an RIA Novosti report.
Putin said Russia would not violate the laws of other entities to establish the goals.
Putin also didn't rule out that he could lead in a pro-Kremlin United Russia party list in State Duma elections.
"It is yet early to talk about it," Putin said. "However, in general, of course, I, in my current state, do not rule it out."
Elections in the lower house of the Russian Parliament, the State Duma, are scheduled for December 2011.
