It’s been a long time since I last wrote about procurement scandals.
But this “purchase of interior items” by our state-owned company Rosneft impressed me so much that I decided to make a video about it:
In our country, 19 million people live below the poverty line. That means they earn less than 9,691 rubles a month.
About 30 percent of the population earns less than 25,000 rubles a month, and that is the threshold I propose setting as the minimum wage for a full working day.
In other words, poverty is rampant in the country.
And then we have the wonderful state-owned Rosneft, whose chief bought his wife a yacht for 8.6 billion rubles and is building a house for 3.8 billion rubles.
Never mind that Rosneft has more than 5 trillion rubles in debt.
Since our system of state administration has embraced a “you only live once” style, Rosneft is buying:
A vodka shot glass for 11,000 rubles apiece.
A napkin holder — 32,000 rubles each.
Sugar tongs — 29,000 rubles each.
Ice tongs — 36,000 rubles each.
A beige throw blanket — 124,000 rubles each.
A caviar dish — 83,000 rubles each.
A fork — 11,000 rubles each.
A knife — 12,000 rubles each.
A teaspoon — 14,000 rubles each.
You can verify all the prices in this protocol; the procurement has already taken place. Here is the link to the purchase on Rosneft’s website.
As far as we understand, these items are being bought... for a Rosneft helicopter. A helicopter. A caviar dish, ice tongs.
In fact, stunned Rosneft employees sent us the information about the purchase, telling us that it was for a helicopter.
I very, very much want everyone in Russia whose salary is lower than the price of the napkin holder being bought by the state-owned company Rosneft to see the video about this purchase.
Help spread it around. Maybe it will make people think.
You can support our campaign financially here (we won’t be buying any caviar dishes).
You can sign or become a volunteer here: