Venediktov didn’t disappoint and asked Kupriyanov (press secretary to the chairman of the management board of Gazprom OJSC) about the kickback scheme, and why Gazprom itself does not consider itself a victim of it. The dialogue is amazing: A. VENEDIKTOV: Sergei Kupriyanov. One more topic. The newspaper Vedomosti, issue of the 24th. The article “Gas Arithmetic” informed everyone that, it turns out, there is a criminal investigation underway related to events in 2005 at Mezhregiongaz, where Mezhregiongaz, NOVATEK... transactions were conducted at inflated prices, and as a result Gazprom shareholders suffered, since their money was effectively spent. They received lower dividends. One of them, Alexei Navalny, has now even been recognized as an injured party. Do you know this story? S. KUPRIYANOV: We know the story. It’s an old story. How anyone could have suffered from a transaction that brought Mezhregiongaz several million dollars is not entirely clear. What is the complaint, essentially? Gas produced by NOVATEK at different times, but delivered at the same delivery point, was purchased at different prices. At one price from NOVATEK, and at a higher price from this company. Let me try to answer figuratively. Try going tonight, say, to Lenkom (a well-known Moscow theater). Walk up to the box office and say, “One ticket, please.” It’s unlikely to work. A. VENEDIKTOV: It won’t. S. KUPRIYANOV: It won’t. But at the same time, somewhere nearby there will probably be a person who bought that ticket earlier. A. VENEDIKTOV: That person is called a “ticket scalper.” S. KUPRIYANOV: He may be a scalper. But we need to get into the theater. A. VENEDIKTOV: So you’re the injured party. In these circumstances, isn’t Gazprom also an injured party, forced to buy gas through its subsidiary at an inflated price compared with other options? S. KUPRIYANOV: This is gas that we supply at commercial prices to commercial consumers. In other words, in one of the regions there was a need for additional volumes of commercial gas, and at that moment only this company had it available. The consumer agreed, we bought it. We earned our commission. That’s all. A. VENEDIKTOV: So there is a case. You’re not involved in it? The investigation is ongoing. Gazprom does not consider itself a victim? S. KUPRIYANOV: No. http://www.echo.msk.ru/programs/creditworthiness/561241-echo/ I can say only one thing. To continue the analogy with the theater and the person who really needs a ticket: yes, if you really need a ticket, you’ll buy one from a scalper. It’s just that in Gazprom’s case, the fing ticket from the scalper is being bought by the theater director. And f*, it’s a wonderful interview, worth reading. It also talks about Schalke 04 and Gazprom’s tower in St. Petersburg.