But Primakov does envisage the state increasing regulation. He has removed Valentin Yumashev, a presidential chief of staff, who was beholden to Berezovsky, and replaced him with a former KGB officer. I found Primakov proud of the fact that he pushed through the Duma a draft law that will allow the government to share in some of the earnings from natural resources. The amendments await the signature of President Yeltsin. Primakov said he also intends to find a way to control the output of and revenues from vodka because 60 percent is made illegally.
Most producers pay no taxes.
Rotgut vodka killed 32,000 people in 1998. The oligarchs are being pressed by others beside Primakov. Grigori Yavlinsky, the most intelligent and educated of the parliamentary leadership, told me he is urging them to have open and honest books. We have production-sharing agreements, but they just don't share. We must have access to the revenues from natural resources.