Russia needs to do more to attract foreign direct investment, in the wake of its move in early July to make the rouble fully convertible. This would strengthen its economy and reduce its reliance on oil and gas revenues, OECD experts say.

When Irish government minister Liam Lawlor died tragically in an accident while being chauffeured along Moscow’s Leningrad Shosse in October 2005, local newspapers pointed out that high-speed crashes are common along such boulevards due to the often reckless driving of Muscovites. At a time when the rest of Europe tightens its seatbelts, Russia is only beginning to wake up to its alarming traffic accident statistics.