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Gold/Mining/Energy : Big Dog's Boom Boom Room -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Tomas who wrote (23508)	6/7/2003 5:03:47 PM
From: Tomas	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 206359

Gazprom in charm offensive Upstream, June 6 By Vladimir Afanasiev Mighty Russian gas giant Gazprom appears once again to be flexing its muscle in the domestic political arena with executive chairman Alexei Millier to hold court for an audience of Communist party (KPRF) top brass at the company's Moscow headquarters. Miller has invited senior KPRF officials to a meeting ostensibly to brief them on the company's activities, although observers suggest the monopoly may be trying to win favour with the party's leader Gennady Zyuganov ahead of parliamentary elections to be held later this year. The KPRF, one of the biggest parties in the Duma, the lower house of parliament, is expected to maintain its position in the upcoming poll. However, it will need funds for the campaign. Until recently, many expected backing to come from businessman Boris Berezovsky, who is in self-imposed exile in London. Berezovsky, an ally of former president Boris Yeltsin, is facing extradition to Russia on fraud charges related to his business dealings in the 1990s. A staunch opponent of President Vladimir Putin, Berezovsky has been looking for a way of returning to Russia without being prosecuted. One avenue open to him is to become a Duma deputy. Russian law prohibits the authorities from arresting members of parliament. However, Gazprom could potentially provide much stronger financial and political support for Zyuganov. But Zyuganov is likely to demand concessions from Miller should the pair agree to an alliance. For example, the monopoly may be forced to put its demands for a substantial increase in domestic gas prices on hold. Gazprom may also have to farm out some of its more expensive orders to Russia's state-owned factories. Analysts said that Western investors who have been anticipating the shake-up Miller promised when he took the reins at Gazprom in 2001 may have a long wait ahead of them. Some claim Miller -- a Putin loyalist -- is more concerned with preventing the Communists from forging an alliance with Berezovsky than answering investors' concerns about Gazprom's financial stability and the speed of reform. Proving, once again, that crony capitalism is still alive and well in Moscow...