Russia's capital outflows tripled

Capital outflows from Russia increased almost three times, in the first quarter of this year, compared to the previous quarter to $50.6 billion, the highest level since the last three months of 2008, when the collapse of Lehman Brothers triggered the financial crisis.

In the fourth quarter of 2013, the net capital outflows from Russia stood at $17.8 billion, according to data published by the central bank in Moscow and quoted by Bloomberg.

On the whole of last year, Russia registered a net capital outflows of $59.6 billion, while in the last quarter of 2008 it stood at $132.1 billion.

Shares on the stock market in Moscow had the worst global trend this year, with a decline of over 10%.

The financial market and investor's confidence were affected after the Russian President Vladimir Putin has annexed Crimea, the U.S. and the EU responding by introducing penalties that affected the Russian economy, which is already on a slowing trend.