Russia's economy slowed sharply in the first three months of the year as uncertainty over the crisis in Ukraine spooked investors into pulling money out of the country, a government minister said April 16. Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev told parliament that growth was only 0.8 percent in the first quarter - far short of the ministry's earlier prediction of 2.5 percent - because of "the acute international situation of the past two months" as well as "serious capital flight."