Long ago, when Gazprom sold gas at the price of $20 on the border of the USSR and Ruhrgas distributed it in Germany at the price of $100 I thought "why people do such stupid business?"
Afterwards, when I found out that about 40 intermediate firms take participation between Gazprom and Ruhrgaz I realized that such a big variation in prices cutting up among many CEO, top managers, politicians etc. I know communists too much well so as to think another way.
Mr. Chernomyrdin created "Gazprom" and "Forbes" mag. consider him as multi-millionaire. When Chernomyrdin became prime minister of Russia in 1992, his permanent companion Rem Vyakhirev was head gas-company. Guess, who is Mr.Vyakhirev in the "Forbes" now?
Son of Mr.Vyakhirev became CEO of "Gasexport". When Mr.Vyakhirev was retired on a pension, his son found oneself under investigation (as though, after Putin's question "Where is money?"). Russian exported 157,2 bcm in 2004, 147,5 of them via Ukraine. I hope now you understand why Mr.Chernomyrdin became Russian ambassador in Ukraine. We heard permanent scandals how 'Ukraine steal gas'. May be so but where is money? There is not answer.
After orange revolution Mr.Yuschenko want transparency in gas-business. As we can see in result, intermediate RosUkrEnergo under control "Brainy Don" Semyon Mogilevich between Russia and Ukraina. In such case ma'am Timoshenko want transparency (perhaps Semyon is not from her men). I have weak hope, may be frau Merkel open investigation from German side…