OREANDA-NEWS   Russian President Vladimir Putin did not suggest to the participants of the closed-door meeting with the business to direct funds to the needs of his own, he supported the initiative of one of the entrepreneurs on voluntary contributions to the state, said Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation.

"It's not true that it (the initiative) came from Igor Sechin. It is not true that it was said that (they will) use THEIR money. It's not true that Putin made such a request," Peskov told reporters.

This is how he commented on media reports that the day before the idea of contributions from businesses for the needs of their own was discussed. The press secretary was also asked if this idea came from the head of Rosneft, Igor Sechin.

"The truth is that one of the participants in the meeting did say that he considered it necessary for the state to allocate a certain, very large amount of money. It was his family decision," Peskov said.

"One of the participants argued that the vast majority of the participants in the meeting started their business in the 90s, mostly this beginning was somehow connected with the state. Therefore, many people now consider it their duty to make such contributions. One of the participants mentioned this. It was his initiative absolutely. It was not an initiative of President Putin, although, of course, the head of state welcomed such an initiative," he stressed.

Peskov was asked to clarify the name of the initiator of the idea of contributions. "That's why it was a closed meeting, so as not to give any details," the Kremlin spokesman replied.

Putin attended the congress of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP). The media reported that after the congress, the head of state held a closed meeting with business representatives.