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Russian deputy premier denies 'arm-twisting' over energy supplies
Interfax

Novosibirsk, 1 June: First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov has dismissed accusations that Russia is using its energy resources to "twist the arms" of foreign partners. "Many people accuse Russia of returning to the past, now using energy imperialism," Ivanov told local journalists in Novosibirsk today.

"In the past we were threatening everybody in military terms, and today we are allegedly threatening everybody with our energy resources and are allegedly twisting everybody's arms. We are not twisting anybody's arms," he said.

He noted that prices for oil, gas and all other Russian resources are set by the market.

"In the 1990s we were taught hard the fundamentals of market economics, and the teachers have to pay for this: we count everything, and everything has its price, and we will not keep other countries going for free, with subsidies or freebies - sorry for the slang," he said.

He added that the market sets conditions of sale Russian companies will export energy resources to countries where it is most beneficial for them to do so.

"We should make effective use of our geographical position. We are part of Eurasia. We have both eastern and western markets at our disposal," he said.