Russia
's
gross domestic product grew by 4.3% in 2011, preliminary data from the Federal
Statistics Service showed Tuesday, coming in slightly above an earlier forecast
by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
At a government meeting earlier this month, Putin said the economy likely grew
by 4.2%. Putin, who will stand for president in elections scheduled for March
4, seeks to return
Russia
to
the 6% to 7% yearly growth rates he presided over during his first two terms in
the Kremlin.
Russia
expects the economy to grow by 3.7% in 2012.