A Russian Senator: Gas Prices Should be Raised

Gas prices in Russia in the foreseeable future should be raised, because they are much lower than the prices on the world market, said the head of the Federation Council's committee for natural monopolies, Mikhail Odintsov, at a news conference in Moscow on Monday.

He drew attention to the fact that the prices on the internal Russian market "are from 20 to 25 dollars for one thousand cubic metres of gas, whereas in the West the prices reach even 300 dollars." The senator believes that this circumstance upsets the fuel and energy balance of the country.

The Western partners of Russia also demand that the gas prices should be liberalised. However, the government fears the social consequences of such a step.