RUSSIA: PRO-KREMLIN PARTY OFFICIAL TAKES OVER GAZPROM INFORMATION-POLICY DEPARTMENT...(Brief Article)

IPR Strategic Business Information Database, March, 2003

Aleksandr Bespalov, chairman of the pro-Kremlin Unified Russia's General Council and its Central Executive Committee, has been named head of Gazprom's information-policy department, RosBalt reported on 27 February. This post was vacated when Aleksandr Dybal became head of Gazprom-Media last month. According to compromat.ru, Bespalov was one of President Vladimir Putin's colleagues at the St. Petersburg regional office of the KGB. If that report is true, then Bespalov is the third former intelligence officer from St. Petersburg to join the national-gas concern in recent weeks. Bespalov has also served as a senator in the Federation Council (Penza) since June 2002. ("RFE/RL Newsline," 28 February)

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