Volodin decided to help Kudrin get on the sanctions lists

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin suggested that the head of the Accounts Chamber, Alexei Kudrin, start checking large projects of the 90s, within the framework of which Russia entered into production sharing agreements and provided unprecedented support measures to Western companies.

He stated this during Kudrin’s report in parliament today, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.

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“Now unfriendly countries have imposed sanctions against Russia and are doing everything to curtail their business here. But at the same time, in the 90s, our country adopted decisions at the legislative level according to which companies from Japan, England, and the Netherlands receive huge profits. We are talking about the Sakhalin-2 PSA. On the one hand, they criticize our country, on the other, they sit there quietly and receive huge dividends.

Analyze this situation. Let the share of Gazprom and the state grow. Or companies will come from countries friendly to Russia, and these companies will leave. They should have long ago transferred all the property that they had paid for themselves 10 times at the expense of the Russian Federation’s profits. They take our companies, property, and create problems. We must return what was given away wrongfully. They are silent today because the project is extremely profitable. If you already imposed sanctions, then return them. Otherwise they impose sanctions and receive money. “Shell announced that it was leaving, loudly slamming the door, but they retained their share in Sakhalin-2,” Volodin said.

Kudrin clearly did not like the speaker’s proposal.

“Sanctions are adopted by politicians, and companies and the private sector suffer from them. Once upon a time he is forced to obey and leave, to restrain himself, but where he can work, he transfers technology to us. Still, Russia will widely interact with other countries, not only unfriendly ones, but also others that are ready to interact with us. They should not have the feeling that there are political risks in making decisions regarding our companies that operate in their territories.
There is an additional risk assessment on the part of any countries when such measures are taken. They must be weighed and verified. In this case, let’s analyze it,” Kudrin said.

Vice Speaker Irina Yarovaya objected to him.

“The decisions of 94 were caused by the weakness of politicians, because at that time Russia often made decisions that were not for the benefit of the citizens of our country. At that time, Russian citizens did not believe in their country. We are now at a stage of economic development where policies are focused on the benefit of citizens. We must provide conditions and preferences for our own business. Donating blood in the economy has shown its ineffectiveness and has ended. Our resources are our competitive advantage, which causes an aggressive policy against Russia. The position of the Accounts Chamber should be more offensive,” Yarovaya said.

Later, communist deputy Denis Parfenov asked why Kudrin has not yet been included in the sanctions lists. The head of the Accounts Chamber tried to avoid answering, but Volodin answered for him.

“Colleagues, don’t worry. As soon as Alexey Leonidovich actively deals with the assets of foreign companies within the Sakhalin-2 PSA and returns to us what now belongs to Japanese and English companies, he will immediately be included in the sanctions list, and we will accept him into our ranks. Because all the deputies are already on the lists. Since the deputies voted for you, you will become closer to the people. It’s clear that someone was enthusiastic about your hesitation. We are preparing to inspect Japanese and English companies and return money to the state,” Volodin admonished.

A corresponding amendment was promptly made to the resolution on the report of the Accounts Chamber.

Sakhalin-2 is an oil and gas project implemented on Sakhalin Island under the terms of a production sharing agreement (about 60% of liquefied gas is intended for Japan). As part of Sakhalin-2, the Piltun-Astokhskoye and Lunskoye fields of the Sakhalin sea shelf are being developed. Sakhalin Energy (Bermuda) is the project operator. Its shareholders are Gazprom (50% plus 1 share), Shell (27,5% minus 1 share), Japanese Mitsui (12,5%) and Mitsubishi (10%).

As reported, at the end of February, Shell, which owns a 27,5% stake in the project, announced its intention to exit the asset and later withdrew its management and technical staff from there. At the same time, it was reported that the Japanese Mitsui (share in the project is 12,5%) and Mitsubishi (10%) do not intend to leave the project, where about 4 million tons of oil are produced per year.