Lately, I’ve felt like starting almost all my posts with the phrase, “and these people, too, deserve to be shot immediately.” I don’t like that. It’s a bad sign. I need to be calmer. Otherwise I might turn into a typical deranged liberal crank. I practically ought to do breathing exercises before posting anything. So, via the link from Barabashidze. And these people, too, deserve immediate imprisonment: The global crisis has dealt a serious blow to Transneft’s transportation plans, as the company is heavily dependent on loans. Understanding this, as well as the importance of its projects for the state, the state-owned company plans to ask its owner for financial assistance. At a meeting with Sechin, one of the main topics was the problems Transneft is facing in financing its projects. For example, the credit lines Sberbank allocated for the ESPO pipeline (Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean oil pipeline) have already been almost completely used up, while agreements with other banks on loans are “still hanging in limbo,” he уточнил. Transneft is ready to accept help both in the form of direct financing and preferential loans. Given the importance of ESPO for Russia’s economy and political ambitions, it can be assumed that the necessary funds will be provided. source What brazen, shameless, cynical bastards. Over the last two years they siphoned half a billion dollars out of the company under the guise of charitable activity, they don’t want to report what kind of “charity” that was, but they are READY TO ACCEPT HELP BOTH IN THE FORM OF DIRECT FINANCING AND PREFERENTIAL LOANS. They robbed the shareholders and are demanding money from taxpayers. And they’ve even got the nerve to say this at government meetings. They should have just sat quietly and worked it out among themselves: dude, remember how we carved up a billion with your approval, now we’re short on money for the pipeline, toss us some cash. But no, damn it, they absolutely have to make a public statement. And not just any statement, but one using the phrase, “understanding the importance of its projects for the state, the state-owned company plans...” As if they’re doing their part to help Russia “rise from its knees” (a common nationalist slogan about restoring national power and pride). I hate them with a furious passion.