Headed by Chairman Gazputin
Posted on 07/05/2007 9:29:34 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Gazprom and Transneft given initial go-ahead to form armed units
5th July 2007
By Clare Watson
Russia's lower parliament, the Duma, has given state-owned gas monopoly Gazprom and state-owned oil pipeline cartel Transneft permission to create their own armed security units in order to protect their domestic oil and gas infrastructure, media reports have revealed.
According to Upstreamonline.com, although 341 of the 450-strong parliamentary body backed the bill, the approval has sparked fierce backlash and claims that Russia is attempting to create armies for its already powerful state cartels.
AdvertisementIndeed, the Times Online cited Gennadi Gudkov, one of the Duma members who opposed the proposal, as saying: "This law envisages the creation of corporate armies. If we pass this law, we will all become servants of Gazprom and Transneft."
Nevertheless, those responsible for the bill are reported to have claimed that it is not intended to give Gazprom and Transneft disproportionate power, but rather to help them defend their installations. At present, the companies can only hire from external security firms.
Upstreamonline.com cited Alexander Gurov, one of the Duma members to approve the proposal, as claiming that, in the face of terrorist attacks, Russia would be seen as an undependable energy supplier. Russia exports vast amounts of oil and gas to Europe and beyond through its pipelines.
The Times Online reported that the proposal still needs to be approved by the upper house of the parliament and president Putin himself before it becomes legally binding. However, critics are warning that full approval could lead to other corporations demanding the same rights.
Ping!
Ping!
—their own armed security units—
Give ‘em a few decades to mature, and the energy corps will be able to stage their own armed coups.
Bump and Ping.
This sounds like something from an Ian Flemming book.
Energy Mercantilism
http://www.moneyweek.com/file/25070/russia-iran-and-a-dangerous-axis-of-oil.html
Well Hospitals and Universities haven’t overthrown the government here, yet. So I guess we will have to wait and see.
—Well Hospitals and Universities haven’t overthrown the government here, yet.—
Most Universities have already done their brainwashing job.
Will they be fielding a Rollerball team anytime soon?
This should be corrected. Also the item lacks information necessary to explain the background.
Transneft is 100% government owned. Gasprom's control stock belongs to the government.
Legally any company, no matter to whom it belongs, can create a security department staffed with armed employees. They need to obtain a licence from the police, what requires meeting some conditions.
But a private security service is armed with 0.380 acp semi-auto pistols and smooth-bore rifles and there should be only one piece of firearm per 4 employees.
Now the bill proposes granting Gazprom and Trasneft the rights equal to the federal agency providing security services to everyone for money. The agency employees have a legal status, uniform and armament equal to the police ones.
I see no reason while similar departments couldn't be created for the Gasprom and Transneft needs, if necessary.
A modern version of Oprichnina?
That's a too far-fetched interpretation.
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