Putin continued his reflective approach to Russian history in December 2009 when he held an annual televised phone-in session. The prime minister openly criticized Stalin’s “crimes against his own people”, cult of personality, and all forms of totalitarian rule. Russia’s liveral democratic political movement maintained on February 5th 2009, that “the dismantling of Putinism” and restoration of democracy in Russia were necessary for any anti-crisis measures to function successfully. The movement also demanded Putin’s government resign. However, the World Bank praised the Russian government’s anti-crisis measures, saying in their Russia Economic Report in November 2008: “prudent fiscal management and substantial financial reserves have protected Russia from deeper consequences of this external shock. The government’s policy response so far – swift, comprehensive, and coordinated – has helped limit the impact”. Putin announced on June 9th 2009 that Russia was withdrawing from negotiations with the World Trade Organization which the European Union believed would be completed by the end of that year. Putin announced that Russia would instead make a new joint bid with Kazakhstan and Belarus. Such a move betrays Russia’s losing patience with Western promises to let the country join. The led torch was no longer focused on the West but on the East.