Tops and Roots

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Gazprom has acquired 72% stake in Sibneft
All summer the pages of newspapers, in addition to the criminal case "Yukos", did not leave the state theme of buying 10.7% stake in Gazprom, for which the state laid out 7.1 billion dollars. For a long time, the media, there was much discussion about Gazprom buys 72% stake in Sibneft. And on Sept. 28 the deal took place. Gazprom acquired for 13,091 billion 72.663% stake in Sibneft. And today we are witnessing not only the ongoing privatization of state property, but also witnessed deprivatizatsionnyh processes.
These processes of return oil and gas assets in state ownership have made some journalists and politicians euphoria. Here they say, the authority has taken care of people and bought the oligarchs have taken away people's property, the property. But the people did not express particular enthusiasm, as they are ignorant of what he would be this, and did not know how to treat him in the events. But journalists did not have long to admire, as at the beginning of autumn fuel prices jumped up sharply, and the euphoria quickly diminished.
In a society once again, as in the beginning of perestroika, not flared humorous debate about forms of ownership. Some, such as Zhirinovsky, Zyuganov, and some of United Russia is in favor of increasing the proportion of state ownership, while others, like Potanin, who said that he was not sure of the effectiveness of state in the economy, Illarionov, who discovered among some government officials "Venezuelan" disease, Nemtsov, Chubais and supporting Democrats, foaming at the mouth, showing that private ownership is much more efficient and better for the people. Some say that officials are not interested in the development of production, and therefore state property has no chance of survival in a competitive environment. Their opponents point to Khodorkovsky and other oligarchs, accusing them of fraud and robbery of the people. A Prosecutor General's Office continues to investigate the case of Yukos, trying to grope the next 7 billion dollars stolen and legalized by placing them abroad. In general, all fighting for the good of the people, but only for something, yet without the people.
But, as at the time, and now none of them arguing about the ownership does not raise the question of public involvement in monitoring how the activities of enterprises and the state itself. They seemed not to know that the lack of control by society, the privatization process, has allowed officials to give away public property to their partners and to amass this great capital, while newly made owners receive billions in assets, with very small amounts. Only in 1995, organized by shares auctions, the state sold for $ 100 million a 51% stake in Sibneft, which is currently estimated at 8.5 billion dollars, 79% stake in Yukos for 319 million, estimated in 2005 at 18 8 billion dollars, 40.12% stake in Surgutneftegaz for $ 90 million, currently estimated to be worth $ 15 billion, 51% of Norilsk Nickel for 170 million, which grew in value to 6.23 billion dollars in 2005 . How many have received bonuses from these transactions, various officials and others involved in the loans for shares people, remains a mystery covered with darkness, which is unlikely to become widely known among Russian citizens.
And today the government pretends that it "Yukos", applies only to employees, and the involvement of high government officials, without which all these machinations would be simply impossible, not even implied.
So what, say, the reader. It is correctly received by the current authorities, seeking the return of those oil and gas assets in state ownership, after reading the message that Gazprom bought a 72.663% stake in Sibneft and pay for them, 13.091 billion dollars. Moreover, all this is presented as the return of illegally acquired, like the return of the biblical prodigal son. But should rejoice in such a hurry turn of events, or should look closely at this deal. For state-owned company has acquired 72.663% of shares for 13.091 billion dollars when the entire campaign, Sibneft, variously estimated worth of 6.8 billion dollars (figures for the first half of 2005, RBC) to 8,5 billion (newspaper Izvestia »№ 171). Moreover, acquiring Sibneft, Gazprom paid, including for oil assets, which the State has already privatized. Two and a half years ago, the state company Slavneft was purchased by Alliance TNK and Sibneft for 1,8 billion dollars. Now this asset back under the wing of the state, but at a higher price.
And where, I ask the deputies of the Duma, have pledged to meet the interests of the people, where representatives of the Chamber, where the procurator, that is, all those who are simply obliged to monitor the legality of everything that is happening and to defend the interests of Russian citizens? They are in this case we do not see. It is possible that they clearly asked not to intervene in this matter. But MPs seem more concerned with the issue out Russian women abroad. The President also managed to disown the deal, saying that you should not tie the purchase of Gazprom 72% stake in Sibneft to the notion of state that, "if the state wants the company to receive shares of another company that does not mean that the state also wants the deal . What led the public into confusion. Ordinary citizens from such statements by the President is absolutely confused, and they do not understand why the acquisition of state-owned company for 13 billion shares of a private company, where officials are cutting back the past of social guarantees, when a huge number of citizens living below the poverty line, when the state has, according to the Federal State Statistics Service, arrears of wages for state 911 million rubles, not dollars and rubles, is a private matter. It turns out, the state does not want this deal, but forced to make concessions. So, who belongs to whom? Company State or a state company?
After such presidential explanations to the people it is difficult for anything to understand. That's why he has to put up with what is happening, waiting for further developments. Meanwhile Baule, that more public oversight bodies of the people and not available.
So it turns out that in the absence of public control, the state that sells, then buys oil assets, and profit from official and his counterpart oligarch. And all this happens under specious pretexts, from "scientific" reasons and public perception. The state behaves with people like that guy with the stupid bear: if you want "Tops", that is private property - please, or do you want "roots" - public property - get with a smile, but do not climb in our affairs of state, but prices fuel as a growing, and growing, and prices for gas increased at an unprecedented pace.
It seems that with the current regime, these manipulations with the transition of assets from the state to a private company and back can go on indefinitely, allocating the cash pot for the organizers of these movements. And Mr. President, at the same time, shows the highest degree of democracy, not daring to stop these manipulations with the movements of oil and gas assets. Only some sort of lopsided democracy in our guarantor of the Constitution obtained. For employees, managers of state companies, no restrictions, and even more, they can do things that may not please the president. But for the people any freedom. Power has for a long time only and is engaged in that curtailed the rights of people to control its activities. So, limiting the possibility for unwanted in parliament by introducing amendments to the electoral law, it adopts a law on political parties severely limit opportunities for citizens to participate in the political process, then canceling the election of governors, it negates the independent media, it limits the possibility of holding rallies and pickets, then, introduces the strict regulation of strikes, it establishes a public house, to create the illusion of popular representation. In general, authorities do everything in order to representatives of the people could not control its activities, which will certainly allow her to himself, and in the future, getting high and not controlled income.
Well, as citizens, once again robbed and cheated, and will run on a closed circle, trying to ensure a decent existence until the firm does not learn that only the control of the society, as the activities of the state and the activities of private businesses, that only strict compliance with all democratic norms, and not selectively, as it wish to power, could be the guarantor of human existence, the guarantor of equality, freedom and justice.
Vitaly Glukhov
11.10.2005 g.