Page 8 - FSUOGM Week 23 2022

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Previous reports already claimed that Yan- Sechin worked together in Rosneft, and their
dex could split into a domestic unit that will companies are jointly conducting business activ-
operate in the heavily sanctioned economy and ities in the energy sector. He worked on Putin’s
a rebranded relocated international unit run by first presidential election campaign in 2000,
former execs of the company. which he managed in the Tyumen region, where
Yandex is Russia’s leading developer of AI and he had been a regional Duma member since
driverless technologies. Prior to Russia's mili- 1997,” the EU notes.
tary invasion of Ukraine, Yandex was hailed as a Although the EU report does not mention
global technological runner-up, looking to boost this, the Guardian reminds that Khudaynatov is
the monetisation of its technologies on the one also linked to two luxury superyachts allegedly
hand, and leverage these technologies to support belonging to Putin.
its international expansion on the other.
Heavy vehicle producers Kamaz and UAZ,
Veteran oilman Khudaynatov Sukhoi jets
The EU also sanctioned the veteran oilman Together with dozens of the military industrial
and ex-CEO of Russia’s largest crude producer complex producers the EU sixth sanction pack-
Rosneft Edouard Khudaynatov. As followed by age includes heavy vehicle producers Kamaz and
bne IntelliNews, Khudaynatov’s companies are UAZ. UAZ “provides the Armed Forces of the
involved in joint ventures with Rosneft, such as Russian Federation with UAZ Patriot vehicles,
Vostok Oil, and owns major oil deposits in Rus- which were used by the Russian army during
sia. He was already sanctioned by the US back unprovoked and unjustified military aggres-
in 2017. sion against Ukraine”, while KAMAZ-5350,
Khudaynatov’s "Independent Oil and Gas KAMAZ-6350, KAMAZ 6560 vehicles were also
Company" (NNK or Neftegazholding) is one of used by the Russian army.
the largest Russian private companies and one This is notable, as Kamaz domestic heavy
of the top oil producers, which carries out pros- trucks are crucial for cargo transportation and
pecting, exploration and development of oil and a number of other industries, from construction
gas fields, oil refining, as well as production and to waste management.
marketing of petroleum products. In 2015, the In addition, the EU also sanctioned Sukhoi
company revenues amounted to $2.2bn, the EU aircraft manufacturer for the use of its combat
sanction report estimates. aircrafts by the Russian military. Up to 20 Suk-
In the last few years, Rosneft has also paid hoi’s civil SuperJet 100 medium-halt airplanes
Khudaynatov $9.6bn in exchange for a company were planned to be supplied to Russian domestic
that owns an oilfield in Taimyr, the EU notes. carriers cut out of foreign jet supplies, according
Both Rosneft and NNK “requested and obtained to Vedomosti daily.
from President Putin benefits in relation to their
extraction activities in the Arctic”. Alina Kabaeva
Thus the EU argues that Khudaynatov is asso- Among the 65 individuals sanctioned under the
ciated with the CEO of Rosneft, Igor “Oil Czar” sixth EU sanction package is Alina Kabaeva,
Sechin, and President Putin. “Khudaynatov and the chairwoman of the Nationa Media Group

Alina Kabaeva was
alleged to be Putin's
girlfriend at one time.

P8 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 23 08•June•2022