Russia Monitor Monthly November 2020

Page 22

more dangerous for Lukashenko. He is aware seem to keep promises he had given to Putin that Moscow will never back pro-Western – like the constitutional reform and dialogue opposition members while it could use pro- with opposition members, some of whom are Russian ones as the tool not only to weaken Moscow-endorsed. By no coincidence, while the incumbent regime but also even to change in talks with Lukashenko, Lavrov mentioned it. Lavrov’s words and gestures at his talks with the agreements made at the Sochi summit as Lukashenko clearly showed that he had arrived vital for the Russian side. It seems that Moscow in Minsk to ensure that Lukashenko had kept is pushing for Lukashenko to make some up with his commitments made during the concessions to the pro-Russian opposition – Sochi meeting with Putin on September 14. That such as dropping charges against Babaryka is what started to worry Moscow. More than or Tsikhanouski. Lukashenko is dragging his two months have passed since then and with feet over that, aware of that – for the Kremlin Russia’s help, Lukashenko managed to contain – no sensible political alternative is the best the situation in the country yet he does not guarantee for him to further head Belarus.

30 November 2020

SECHIN’S “STEEL” BUSINESS RAISES SERIOUS DOUBTS Rosneft seeks to build a large metal plant in the Far East to supply steel sheet to the Zvezda shipbuilding yard. The thing is yet that construction of the former will cost more than that of the latter. The mere idea raises severe doubts while possibly being another example of how Igor Sechin’s oil company might embezzle public money.

T

he head of Rosneft submitted further billion roubles. But there have long been much details at a meeting with Vladimir Putin controversy and money-wasting accusations on November 24. As always when Sechin goes around the project. Rosneft is in charge of to the Kremlin, he seeks to get the green the construction of the giant shipbuilding light from the president for his company’s facility in the Russian Far East. State-owned new, perhaps state-funded mission. Sechin company Rosneftegaz holds an 82.4 percent put the issue bluntly, saying “this project stake in Zvezda, Rosneft-owned bank WBRR needs financing.” This is all due to the Zvezda has another 13.4 percent while Gazprombank shipbuilding yard, currently being built, that – the remaining 4.6 percent. So far this was needs considerable supplies of steel sheet. The Rosneftegaz that pumped most in the shipyard, cost of the shipbuilding facility is some 146 namely 67 billion roubles in paid-in capital and

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