By Olga Razumovskaya
MOSCOW--The head of Russian president's executive office Sergei
Ivanov has been lined up to potentially head the board of directors
of state telecommunications company OAO Rostelecom (RTKM.MZ), a
Kremlin spokesman said Tuesday.
The announcement, made at a press briefing, comes as the
government is trying to take a more hands-on role in running state
companies.
State-owned companies, including OAO Rosneft (ROSN.MZ) and
Gazprom Neft (ROSN.MZ), have sought financial aid from the
government as a result of difficulties stemming from the
depreciating ruble and from being cut off from global capital
markets as a result of sanctions.
"Rostelecom is a major state asset in communications and
naturally this is how the state is showing the significance it
attaches to further development of the industry," news agency
Interfax quotes Dmitry Peskov as saying.
The appointment of government officials to boards of state
companies "significantly eases" interaction between the companies
and the government, Mr. Peskov said.
During crises "the role of the state in resolving certain
economic issues becomes more prominent," he said. "Major
companies...need government help."
Rostelecom Chief Executive Sergei Kalugin said on Monday that
the company will seek state aid sparingly.
Write to Olga Razumovskaya at olga.razumovskaya@wsj.com