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A
land too cold for a free market in energy
By Fiona Hill, Financial Times (UK), October 17, 2003
In reference to the European Union's demand that Russia
should raise its low domestic gas and electricity
prices to world levels if it wants to join the World
Trade Organisation, the Russian president retorted:
"That is impossible. We would cause the whole
Russian economy to collapse."
Chubais
Gets New UES Term; Yabloko Miffed
By Alla Startseva, The Moscow Times, April 30, 2003
The government has extended Anatoly Chubais' contract
as CEO of power monopoly Unified Energy Systems by
five years, UES said Tuesday -- much to the dismay
of the liberal Yabloko party.
UES
Revamp Gets the Green Light
By Alla Startseva, The Moscow Times, February 17,
2003
The State Duma passed in the key second reading a
total of six bills that pave the way for industry-wide
modernization, the creation of a free market for electricity
and the breakup of Unified Energy Systems' sprawling
monopoly.
Vote
on UES Overhaul Goes Down to the Wire
By Alla Startseva, The Moscow Times, February 14,
2003
Tempers flared Thursday as lawmakers scrambled for
last-minute concessions ahead of Friday's crucial
vote on a government-backed plan to radically overhaul
the nation's electricity sector.
State
Duma committee approves amendments to the draft laws
on energy sector reform
RosBusinessConsulting, February 6, 2003
RBC, February 6, 2003, Moscow. The Russian State Duma
Committee for Energy, Transport and Communications
approved the amendments to the government package
of draft laws aimed at electricity reform that will
be submitted for a second reading by the State Duma.
President
does not know what draft laws are discussed by the
State Duma
Rosbalt, February 3, 2003
St. Petersburg. February 3, 2003. "President
does not dispose of all available information on draft
laws submitted to parliament," stated deputy
of the State Duma Sergei Mitrokhin in comments on
Vladimir Putin's statement regarding energy sector
reform and reform in the housing and communal sector
made during a meeting with Chairman of the State Duma
Gennadi Seleznyov on January 29, 2003.
Chubais
pushes for UES transformation
By Andrew Jack, Financial Times (UK) February 5, 2003
With 680,000 staff, the company is the largest and
most inefficient power generator in the world, analysts
say. Now the former Kremlin chief of staff wants to
privatise it.
The
Whirlpool of Reforms, Structural reforms have obviously
become unpopular with Putin's team
By Kirill Rogov, Vedomosti, December 2002
Today it is possible to say that the major structural
reforms announced by the Putin administration when
it came to power would be postponed until Putin's
next term in office.
Kasyanov
Gives Duma The Cold Shoulder
By Alla Startseva, The Moscow Times, January 20, 2003
Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov on Friday skipped
a State Duma session where he was supposed to report
on government measures to fix heating in the regions.
Electricity
Sector Reforms Postoned Until February
By Ivan Rodin, Nezavisimaya Gazeta, January 15, 2003
The meeting of the Duma Council on January 14 clarified
that the Duma would not consider the electricity sector
reform package in the second reading on January 22.
No final date for discussion of the package was set.
As First Deputy Speaker Lyubov Sliska explained, this
is simply a technical issue. At the moment, the government
is preparing amendments to one of the laws included
in the package. When they are submitted to the Duma,
the ordinary council will determine the date for the
debate. This decision is likely to be made on January
21, Sliska said; which means that the second reading
will take place in February.
Russia:
A Cold Snap and Snapping Tempers
Russians call for change as heating systems collapse
in the coldest winter in years--but the call for reform
remains muted
Transitions Online, January 13, 2003
Russia--In the harshest
winter in decades, more than 25,000 people across
Russia spent the New Year and Orthodox Christmas in
a deep chill after hot water pipes, built in the communist
era and left unrepaired for years, froze up and then
burst.
YABLOKO
thinks that the draft laws on energy sector reform
require serious revision
RIA OREANDA, December 17, 2002
Moscow. "The draft laws on energy sector reforms
require serious revision, as they are absolutely unacceptable
in their current form, and their adoption would lead
to economic, political and social hardships,"
Deputy Head of the YABLOKO faction in the State Duma
Igor Artemyev told journalists on Tuesday, December
17, 2002. (Archives)
YABLOKO
supports the proposal to adjourn examination of the
package of draft laws on the energy sector reforms
Rosbalt Information Agency, December 17, 2002
Moscow, December 17, 2002. The YABLOKO faction supported
the initiative of the centrist factions of the Duma
to adjourn examination of the package of draft laws
on the energy sector reforms from December 18, 2002,
to a later period..
UES
Vote Delayed Indefinitely
The Moscow Times, Combined Reports, December 24, 2002
Leaders of parliament on Monday refused to set a date
to debate laws on a controversial electricity sector
overhaul, raising concerns that the Kremlin's resolve
to reform the lumbering power monopoly has crumbled.
Duma
Puts Off a Key Vote on UES's Future
The Moscow Times, By Alla Startseva, December 18,
2002
Efforts to break up the world's largest utility were
dealt a fresh blow Tuesday as political and commercial
interests collided to delay a key vote needed to clear
the way for the government's most controversial restructuring
project.
Duma
Knocks Back Plans for Reform at Energy Monopoly
St Peterburg Times, By Alla Startseva, November 22,
2002
MOSCOW - The State
Duma on Wednesday voted to postpone until Dec. 18
the crucial second reading of a package of bills that
would allow for a controversial energy-sector restructuring.
Duma
Puts Off Bill on Energy Reform
The Moscow Times, By Alla Startseva, November 22,
2002.
The State Duma has voted to postpone until Dec. 18
the crucial second reading of a package of bills that
would allow for a controversial restructuring of the
energy sector.
The
authorities are going to have to answer the most painful
questions connected with the terrorist act in Moscow
Press Release, November 15, 2002
The President of the Russian Federation agreed that
it is necessary to find answers to the most painful
questions connected with the terrorist act in Moscow
and the hostage rescue operation. Grigory Yavlinsky
issued this statement to journalists on November 15,
2002. Yavlinsky also commented on the meeting of the
leaders of the Duma faction with the President in
the Kremlin on November 14, 2002.
Russia:
Government Trying To Transform Energy Sector
Radio Liberty, By Michael Lelyveld, October 16, 2002
Russian deputies have given initial approval to a
power-sector restructuring plan. The move may mark
the first major commitment to break up the country's
natural monopolies, but doubts remain about how the
government's program will work.
Mother
of All Reforms
Wall Street Journal, by Therese Raphael, October 18,
2002
"Corrupt influence . . . loads us more than
millions of debt; which takes away vigor from our
arms, wisdom from our councils, and every shadow of
authority and credit from the most venerable parts
of our constitution."
Some
Anxiety in Russia as Monopoly Nears End
New York Times. By Sabrina Tavernise. October 15,
2002
But many questions remain about how the plan will
be carried out, and investors and some lawmakers have
warned that the process risks repeating the flaws
and mistakes of privatization in Russia in the mid-1990's.
That program was often manipulated by powerful insiders
who stripped away valuable state assets and left outside
shareholders with little or nothing. The Russian legal
system is still trying to cope with the fallout.
Chubais
Blasted as UES Bills Hit Duma
The Moscow Times, by Alla Startseva, October 9, 2002
Left and right converged in opposition to Unified
Energy Systems chief Anatoly Chubais and a controversial
legislation package to overhaul the national power
grid Tuesday, a day ahead of the first reading of
the bills in the State Duma.
Deputies
Vote to Break Up Power Grid
The Moscow Times, by Alla Startseva, October 10, 2002
A handful of young Yabloko supporters, wearing red
wigs in a nod to Chubais and carrying boxes reading
"Alms for reform," protesting the UES bills at the
Duma on Wednesday.
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