Russia's economy is recovering, but remains well below the level it was at before the global financial crisis, says Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, addressing a U.N. labor meeting in Geneva on Wednesday. Putin said Russia has «managed to recover two-thirds of our economy, but still we have not reached pre-crisis levels.» The Russian economy contracted by almost 8 percent during the recession, according to AP. He added that the economy _ the world's sixth-largest _ would reach pre-crisis levels by 2012, eventually rising to become one of the world's top five. Putin also called for «a more fair and balanced economic model,» as nations gradually recover from the world financial crisis that hit in 2008. In April, Putin said in his annual address before Russian parliament that the key lesson from the financial crisis was for the country to be self-reliant and strong enough to resist outside pressure. He said Russia's economy grew 4 percent last year. -- SPA
