| The RSPP is preparing to resolve the issue of Arkady Volsky and Mikhail Khodorkovsky The fate of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) is now entirely in the hands of its permanent president Arkady Volsky. Or, as representatives of big business dream, he will leave this post, and then the union will begin to change, integrating into a new reality. Either Mr. Volsky, despite all the behind-the-scenes agreements, will remain, which will mean the collapse of the organization. At least in the sense that is being put into it now - as a lobbying association of big business.
Tomorrow the RUIE bureau will meet, and on Friday the board meeting will take place. Actually, the main intrigue of the event has been known for a long time. Arkady Volsky must submit an application for voluntary resignation and, as a token of gratitude, receive the position of honorary president with the preservation of the entire set of benefits. After which the board will choose the second from two candidates, Igor Yurgens and Alexander Shokhin, and a new life will begin in the RSPP. Mr. Shokhin himself will replace the virtual association of all business structures - the Coordination Council of Entrepreneurial Communities - with a very real position. Although, as Alexander Shokhin told Vremya Novostei, “it is too early to discuss my candidacy, I am not at all flattered by these premature appointments.”
Initially, it was assumed that RSPP executive secretary Nikolai Tonkov and bureau member Oleg Kiselev would also run for leadership of the organization, but the former recused himself at the request of Mr. Volsky, and the latter due to personal circumstances.
But despite the fact that the change of leadership of the RUIE has long been talked about as a done deal, this week may bring surprises. Firstly, Mr. Volsky, during the six-month epic of gradual departure from his post, has already refused several times from seemingly reached agreements. Secondly, we must not forget that only the bureau consisting of representatives of big business wants his resignation. Among the “ordinary” members of the organization, the absolute majority speaks precisely for Mr. Volsky, and only for him. “No one will take him out of this office, they won’t do anything,” Mikhail Malyutin, head of political science programs at the Expert Institute at the RSPP, told Vremya Novostey. “And Volsky is to blame for only one thing: we should have dealt with them a long time ago.” And he set a course for reconciliation through small concessions.”
One of the newspaper's sources noted with alarm that the situation of uncertainty remains. According to the source, there is reason to believe that Mr. Volsky is not yet done with his game. Letters from localities have already begun to appear asking Arkady Ivanovich not to leave, the source says. There are suspicions that he is stocking up on powers of attorney from a number of board members loyal to him. Although you can do without such difficulties. Only the congress can initiate resignation, and if Mr. Volsky does not come up with a proposal for self-liquidation, the board will not be able to do anything. True, big business is counting on Mr. Volsky not agreeing to such a scandal. “I don’t even dare predict the reaction of some members of the bureau. After all, this will mean that they are not deciding anything here,” the source believes.
No one has any doubts about the second, perhaps even more important for the RSPP issue - the exclusion of the convicted Mikhail Khodorkovsky from the bureau membership. Yesterday, speaking on the Ekho Moskvy radio, Igor Yurgens said that most likely Mikhail Khodorkovsky will be expelled from the ranks of the RSPP. Before the verdict came into force, “members of the RUIE bureau and members of the board were of the opinion that it would be illogical to legally remove him from the bureau.”
According to Mr. Shokhin, “we held out until the last bullet, but a member of the bureau cannot be virtual, especially since no one is stopping him from remaining on the board.” One of the newspaper’s sources even asked indignantly: “Why do you think that we are always running to the Kremlin? We decide everything ourselves." Mikhail Malyutin also does not see the “hand of the Kremlin” in the possible expulsion of Mr. Khodorkovsky, but for different reasons. “I have a complete feeling that the Kremlin is indifferent to all this fuss around the RSPP,” the expert believes. Only Mr. Yurgens does not hide the political background of the decision. “I cannot assume that they will engage in political opposition and will not remove Mr. Khodorkovsky, which, naturally, is a sign of opposition,” Mr. Yurgens said, “now is not the time to confront anyone in authorities". On the other hand, if the RUIE “hands over” Khodorkovsky, this will mean that the organization has finally died as an independent and significant force. And then it doesn’t matter at all who will lead it. Vera SITNINA |
|
