Duma head comments on losses from Slavneft sale

The state has not earned from selling the Slavneft Oil and Gas Company; it has actually lost at least $500m, Russian State Duma Chairman Gennady Seleznyov stated at today's conference devoted to the results of the lower house activities in 2002. This is why Seleznyov believes that the auction for selling 74.95-percent stake in Slavneft "can be called an amusement". "One should not act like this," the Speaker stressed and reiterated that he was against selling profitable companies. Seleznyov also reported that he was going to voice his opinion on this matter at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 26.

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