| Deputy of the State Duma Alexei
Melnikov (the YABLOKO faction) is a firm opponent of the YUKOS company
on a number of economic issues. However, after the attack of the Public
Prosecutor General against YUKOS Melnikov wrote a letter (text attached)
with words of support. Gazeta.ru asked Alexei Melnikov to give his comments.
Question: What made you do this?
Melnikov: Indignation related to the developments made
me write this letter. I am not afraid of ruining my career and believe
it necessary to openly state my position. Moreover I feel comfortable
taking this stance. I have been and am an opponent to YUKOS on a number
of issues, in particular, legislation on production-sharing agreements.
However, in my opinion, if the state wants to resolve some issues withYUKOS
, it can do this via taxes and legislation. But through such methods,
where a person is arrested in hospital and handcuffed, and other actions
which are difficult to understand begin.
They did not have to arrest Platon Lebedev. The Prosecutor General Office
has had this case for many years, but somehow only now decided to arrest
someone who did not present any threat. However the prosecutor general
realised well that he was not going to run from them. Both Khodorkovsky
and Nevzlin were interrogated and calmly gave the evidence
and did not try to avoid doing so. The same would have happened with Platon
Lebedev.
Q: What should be done now?
Melnikov: The most important thing is to make them
release Lebedev. I am ready to become his guarantor, if necessary.
Q: Will you become a guarantor of your opponent?
Melnikov: One can disagree on some economic issues
with the heads of the YUKOS company. But it is obvious that this company
is trying to become respectable and work in accordance with Western standards.
I think that if more companies in Russia had followed their line, this
would have spared us the terrors and disasters of privatisation we faced
at the beginning and mid-1990s. Someone would like to redistribute property
in his interests. This would push us back.
There are a few companies that in addition to their economic performance
sponsor so many projects. For example, I go to the bookshops and buy books
on the oil industry that were sponsored by YUKOS. A recent example is
"Russian Oil". I see what the Federation of the Internet Education
is engaged in and I think that this is a very useful thing for our country.
If
someone wishes to rail at the risks of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and YUKOS,
they should not forget about the good things YUKOS tries to do and has
already been doing.
Q: In your letter you give the names of the people who are
in your view behind the attack against YUKOS. Why do other people keep
silent?
Melnikov: The names of Ivanov (Deputy Head of Presidential
Administration Viktor Ivanov - Gazeta.ru), Sechin (Deputy Head of Presidential
Administration Igor Sechin - Gazeta.ru) and Zaostrovtsev (Deputy Director
of the FSB Yuri Zaostrovtsev - Gazeta.ru) are constantly mentioned by
the political elite in connection with the YUKOS case. It would be desirable
if
these gentlemen would somehow voice their position. Because if they state
that they have no connection with the developments, than those directly
involved would know they have publicly distanced themselves.
And if these gentlemen say nothing, than one has to accept that all
the gossip is true. And that these policies are directed by the people
who are by the President and try to keep by his side. I would like to
stress once again that the President is entitled to his own point of view
on the oligarchs, and one can probably agree to a large extent with the
justification for this point of view However, the interests of the aforementioned
people are different from the Presidents' views.
Q: What are these interests?
Melnikov: In my view their interests can be reduced
to a new redistribution of property. After obtaining this property post
2007 they would struggle for power. The Head of the Ministry for Economic
development Herman Gref made an absolutely correct statement here (that
the results of privatisation will not be revised - Gazeta.ru). I hope
that it is a responsible statement.
It is very important now to calm foreign investors and it is very important
to give a positive signal, especially after the colossal breakthrough
in foreign politics achieved by the President. Therefore, those who fight
against YUKOS with their inadequate methods have inflicted huge damage
on the policies conducted by the President, including towards European
countries and the USA.
Gref's statement is absolutely correct. I think that YUKOS as it is now
is one of the best Russian companies. And it should preserve its business,
irrespective of developments, as it is one of the most progressive companies,
the showcase of Russian capitalism. And the West makes its judgments on
developments in Russian business on the basis of the number of our flagship
companies.
See also:
YUKOS
Case
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