Mikhail M. Kasyanov is a Russian politician who served as Prime Minister of Russia from 2000 to 2004. Before becoming Prime Minister, he was the Minister of Finance from 1999 to 2000. During his tenure as Prime Minister, Kasyanov implemented several reforms aimed at liberalizing Russia’s economy, including changes to capital controls and foreign trade, as well as tax and pension reforms. These measures contributed to a period of economic growth in Russia. In 2006, Kasyanov reentered politics to promote democratic values and counter what he perceived as increasing authoritarianism under President Vladimir Putin. He ran for president in 2008 but was disqualified on political grounds. Kasyanov co-founded the People's Freedom Party (PARNAS) with Boris Nemtsov, and the party has been active in organizing protests against issues such as government corruption and the war in Ukraine. PARNAS also advocates for the decommunization of Russia. Kasyanov has faced threats due to his opposition to the current administration. In 2023, the Russian government decided to dissolve the PARNAS Party and designated Kasyanov as a “foreign agent.”