RIA Novosti publishes that the Minister of Finance Alexei Kudrin offers to remain the functions of the Ministry in the field of precious metals and gemstones regulations. According to Mr Kudrin, the Statements on the Ministry of Finance provide such functions in this field as control over precious metals and gemstones mining, production and turnover.

However, the Ministry of Nature has asked to exclude precious metals and gemstones mining from the functions of Finance Ministry. The question is being now considered from legal point of view.