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Why Gazprom Resembles a Crime Syndicate / Anders Aslund, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Op-ed in the Moscow Times, February 28, 2012http://www.piie.com/publications/opeds/oped.cfmGazprom has been Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's main preoccupation since 2001, but it has been a spectacular failure. Gazprom possesses huge natural resources, however, it is extremely inefficient because of poor management and massive corruption. In addition, it pursues an aggressive foreign policy that harms both the company and Russia. In reality, Gazprom in many ways is more important in advancing the Kremlin's foreign policy than the Defense Ministry or the Foreign Ministry...