Russian PM launches attack on monopolists

Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov has spoken out against the management of UES, accusing the electricity giant of charging too high a price for public utilities.

At a government meeting on strategy for socio-economic development in Russia for the next 12 years, Viktor Zubkov said the high price of utilities is one of the factors threatening the development of small business in Russia.

He also criticised excessive red tape, and the prevalence of corruption and bribery. But, according to Zubkov, the greatest challenge to small business comes from monopolists.

“Monopolists are the main disaster today, a terrible force,” Zubkov said.