Russia's richest man sees Putin in charge to 2020

Russia's richest man, Oleg Deripaska, has said he is convinced Vladimir Putin will remain fully in charge of Russia until 2020, even though he is stepping down as president on May 7.

The media-shy business mogul, with interests stretching from metals and oil to airports and cement, also said that the West should stop fearing Russia.

"I see no political risks (after May 7). Living in Russia makes me confident," he said in a rare chat with journalists in one of Moscow's top restaurants, the Cafe Pushkin. His comments on Friday were embargoed for publication on Sunday.

Dmitry Medvedev, Putin's chosen successor who won the March presidential election with a landslide, will be sworn in on May 7 but the hugely popular Putin has vowed to be prime minister.

Medvedev has pledged loyalty to his political mentor and promised to implement "the Putin plan," a set of goals to make Russia a developed country by 2020. Reuters