Murky connections

"A year after the so-called gas war between Moscow and Kyiv, energy transhipments from Russia to Europe via Ukraine remain a concern. On December 1, RFE/RL's Washington office hosted a briefing featuring Tom Mayne, an energy researcher for the London-based Global Witness. Mayne discussed the lack of transparency in the energy sectors of Ukraine, Russia, and gas supplier Turkmenistan."

Hear Tom Maine's interesting presentation and responses to questions here

A couple of quotes:

" worryingly..in key areas there has been little or no improvement... transparency in the energy sector has shown no improvement [since the OR]"

"a lot of people want to speak of these issues, unfortunately the Ukrainian government is not one of them.."

Former Naftohaz head Yuriy Boyko's appointment as fuel and energy minister in the present government means the unanswered questions will remain.

It is not unreasonable to conclude from the evidence presented, and from President Yushchenko's obfuscatory responses and behaviour in this vitally important matter, that he too is enmeshed in these scams.