What was Rem Vyakhirev: kind, decent, smart, cunning, cheerful, "legend"

In the 79th year of his life, Rem Vyakhirev died, who created along with the Minister of the gas industry of the USSR, and later the Prime Minister of Russia Viktor Chernomyrdin Gazprom. Vyakhirev held the post of head of the company from 1992 to 2001. Publicpost talked with those who knew him personally.

Photo: Sergey Mikheev/Kommersant

Evgeny Yasin, Minister of Economics of Russia in 1994-1997 :

"I can’t say that we were close people that I felt a colleague in him, but he was a closest friend of Viktor Stepanovich (Chernomyrdina - approx. Ed.). Viktor Stepanovich was my leader for several years. Chernomyrdin knows everything, and I must say that he left me a very good impression. I will tolerate this good attitude to his closest friend - Rema Ivanovich. (Vyakhirev-Ed.) And I believe that on the day of his death, we must mention him with gratitude for the work that he did in the 90s and in the early 2000s.

I just want to recall that in 1998, in a certain period, oil cost not $ 108 per barrel, but eight, and it was necessary to somehow make ends meet. Then, as everyone remembers, the default was still declared. Before that ... Gazprom has always been a little better than everyone. And then, too, because the price of gas fell after the price of oil, but quite with a significant interval. At that moment, when the oil was at the bottom, the gas was more expensive. And when it was necessary to get out of the situation, I mean the times when Viktor Ivanovich was still Prime Minister (December 25, 1993-March 23, 1998-approx. Ed.), He turned to Vyakhirev. And he always helped. Gazprom was the second budget, the “spare pocket” of the government, which was used in particularly difficult situations. It was not politicism, it was friendship, help, support, which are important in difficult times. I have a kind memory of him. We all must remember this figure as one of the prominent people of this difficult and glorious period in the history of Russia.

***

A very characteristic feature of this generation of the Soviet business executives of the pre-reporting-reform era: they passed the "school", leaving a simple youth environment, they did not differ some special, I would say, cultural achievements, but they were honest and decent people to the extent that this allowed the environment. There were stories.

For example, we cursed with Vrin (Vladimir Resin oversaw the construction of construction in the Moscow government) and Luzhkov (Yuri Luzhkov (Yuri Luzhkov - the mayor of Moscow from 1992 to 2010), sitting in the office of Chernomyrdin, about whether or not to give money from the budget for the construction of the temple of Christ the Savior. Frankly, although it is not fashionable now and, as it were, the next Pussy Riot was not recorded, but then I refused to give money simply because there was no money in the budget. That is, they were, but were intended for other goals. And then Chernomyrdin said: "Okay, we will find it." He picked up the phone and called Rem Ivanovich: "Rem, allocated a quota for export for Luzhkov."

***

There was another case. The issue was discussed. Chubais only recently received a scolding (he was then the first deputy prime minister) for not managing to achieve a reduction in budget deficit: it was necessary to show rigidity, to achieve a reduction in expenses. And then, looking at those present at a meeting of industrialists, among them was Vyakhirev, he turned to everyone. Chubais looked especially slyly at Rema Ivanovich, because he was one of the few who had any money at all. Chubais asked carefully everyone to pay taxes. Vyakhirev replied to him: "What we can, we will give, but do not ask anymore." That's about this, he was - a business executive, but the samples of the time that raised him. He deserves our gratitude. "

Boris Nemtsov, Minister of Fuel and Energy in 1997 :

"Vyakhirev is a legendary Soviet strong business executive. He, together with Chernomyrdin, created the largest gas corporation in the world and rightfully led it for many years.

I, being Deputy Prime Minister, who oversee the energy and Gazprom, was the chairman of the state representatives in Gazprom, I constantly cursed with Vyakhirev. First of all, about the shares that Vyakhirev wanted to acquire from the state for nothing. 35% of Gazprom shares for $ 12 million - for the price of a cottage on Rublevka. I managed to return these actions to the state. We cursed about the opacity of Gazprom. But Vyakhirev was a professional who enjoyed indisputable authority. And if you compare it with the current team of Miller (Alexei Miller is the chairman of the Gazprom’s board since 2001), then this is like day and night - Miller Vyakhirev is not suitable. I think that in the last years of his life he was madly worried that everything he created is destroyed under the strict leadership of Putin managers, but he was nomenclature and did not speak out loud, although in his last interview with Forbes magazine he hinted that it was difficult for him to endure the destruction of Gazprom.

***

We had no friendly relationship with him. Rather, they were conflict.

I remember the story with him. Yeltsin and I flew to Sweden in 1997. Then it was a mid -struggle with Vyakhirev for the Gazprom shares. But he did not want to give. And then at the reception of the Queen and King Yeltsin asked me if Vyakhirev returned the rally. I say: "No." “Well, let's go to understand” (Yeltsin answered - approx. Ed.). We approached the eyes of the amazed queen and the king to Vyakhirev. Vyakhirev is worth a smile, he always smiled. Yeltsin says to him: "Give back Nemtsov of the action. In the sense, to the state." Vyakhirev looked at me, I would say with fierce hatred. He told Yeltsin "good", and to me: "I will never forget this to you." The king and the queen stood overwhelming.

And indeed, he cursed my last words all his life. But I probably still did the right thing that I returned Gazprom to the state, although it went to the Putin thieves.

He was such an uncle seemed to have a naive and naive, but in fact, cunning, smart, experienced, with a good memory, who knew his industry perfectly, enjoyed indisputable authority. I was with him in Urengoy, and we met people at the drill, at enterprises, and saw how the people are very reverent, as a legend. "

Photo: Reuters

Mikhail Kasyanov, Chairman of the Government of Russia in 2000-2004:

“I was not very close to him-they talked several times at meetings. He was certainly a very professional person and was very happy for the gas sector and, in particular, for his brainchild-Gazprom. He did not allow excessive intervention to the industry. He headed Gazprom during its formation and brought this corporation to a series of the most significant in the 90s and in the 90s in the 90s and at the beginning The 2000s of Gazprom was of the country's chief taxpayer, how in the 90s, when I was still working in the Ministry of Finance, the question of how much Gazprom will pay, in many ways I determined the social policy of the government: the payment of salaries and pensions, of course, it (Rema Vyakhirev-approx. Ed.) Liberal reforms, I tried to convince him of the need to reform Gazprom, but I must say that he could talk to him - he listened to arguments and made conclusions that he played a huge positive role in the life of the state and Gazprom.

Vasily Gatov, vice president of the guild of publishers :

"Regarding Rem Ivanovich, I have the story of Urengoyskaya. We arrived with ZDF to make a film about Gazprom in big politics. On the eve of the election of the 96th, everything is serious, Yeltsin's rating is 2%, everyone looks at the communists, the height of winter, the German correspondent, how we landed in Novom Urengoy-at BL, he had a long time since he had a long time. The glory of Efimov, you themselves, take off all sorts of gas beauties, which means that here, the day on the third, the Gazprom PR man, who was assigned to the crew, says-we have Rem Ivanovich here, says that the German film crew in Urengoy invites you to breakfast together, exchange, so to speak, where to look for a correspondent. Truly, the chances of finding him in an insane state are higher than the average ... Well, they found, reanimated by the bath at 2 o’clock in the morning, the next morning we raise the correspondent nicknamed “Tanker”, and he does not just hiccups, and cannot stop at all.

“Ik,” says the German. - Ik.

In complete silence, everyone is sitting, neither to food, nor the drinks touch. Vyakhirev comes in, and I understand that his evening was also languid.

“Ik,” says the German, “ik.”

Rem Ivanovich discovers him at the table, approaches, looks into his eyes-and turning to his guard-guard, holds out his hand. He is silent ...

“Ik,” the German says, in the eyes of suffering and a complete misunderstanding of what is happening. - Ik.

Notice, not a single word has been spoken. In the hand of Rema Ivanovich there is a faceted glass, half filled, obviously, vodka, and the batman carefully pricks a salty tomato on the fork.

“Drink,” Rem Ivanovich holds a glass of a glass.

He takes a sip in full, Vyakhirev intercepts his hand lowering the glass. - To the bottom, occupier!

The German finishes, crushing and grunting, but hiccups are immediately passing.

“And the interview,” says Vyakhirev, “will be in the evening.” And leaves.

In the evening, the interview really was rather boring, because without a mat and a human woman. But here I remembered a gesture that intercepts a saving glass. "

Natalia Gevorkyan, journalist :

“I have a marvelous story with Vyakhirev in Paris, which all my friends know. I run to his press conference in the residence of the ambassador. Rain, covered with an umbrella. Vyakhirev stands under the visor of the house, shows my interlocutor, completely hidden under an umbrella and says:“ You asked what a real Frenchwoman looked like. Do you see that seeding under an umbrella? This is how it looks: small, thin, nimble, everything is in a hurry somewhere. A typical Frenchwoman. "I remove the umbrella and say:" Well, about a thin one, it is you, Rem Ivanovich, you got excited. "He is confused:" Well, e ....! Natasha! "And laughs."