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Constantine Yantsen, a political scientist, businessmen: I noted two ‘leading parts’ Yukos has played in the Tomsk region.
The first was an economic one.
It is absolutely clear that Yukos was one of the largest taxpayers,
and did pay the taxes diligently.
Yukos was one of the first companies in Russia
adopted international standards of corporate accountability.
Due to this all those charges,
and especially the ones being brought now,
in the second trial, seem ridiculous.
I would say that is an absurd, even Kafkaesque sort of story,
completely crazy one.
So, economically, the region has lost enormously,
because this company and its people –
they were very representative, and the same time,
being the largest taxpayer it created a good reputation
for the region as an attractive one for the investors.
Obviously, the lasts, if they still existed,
would attract other investors, other major players,
whom, unfortunately, Tomsk region, for all its efforts
cannot lure into the region now.
The situation was economically beneficial
for the university community too.
Tomsk is known as a universities’ district, and therefore
Yukos developed relationships with its Polytechnic University intensively.
We are familiar with those enormous programs
within the "High School – The Company” system established by Yukos;
people could ... students received scholarships,
and teachers, professors were given grants from Yukos
for their scientific innovations in the field of oil and gas,
gas-and-oil producing industry.
It was a powerful backing from Yukos
to the high-school education system.
Well, finally, a social aspect.
This second ‘leading part’ was enormous, in my opinion.
What did Yukos do?
Though it sounds bombastically, I would say Yukos molded
a socially responsible citizen, and I’ll explain you why.
Well, they ... they had such a great program – ‘Civilization’ –
within which a shaping of civic stand has already begun at school.
There was a gaming simulation of leadership;
they looked out for the best ones, they supported, encouraged them;
participants of the program were engaged in self-development,
self-organization, in creating a model of the state.
‘Civilization’ was a game. Then a university followed.
Those best ones supported by Yukos have won, grown up,
and entered the university.
Yukos had an opportunity to support them on their way
to become socially responsible citizens and professionals.
That was a kind of network.
They were doing the same things in Strezhevoy as in Tomsk.
It was an extraordinary ‘social thing’,
when a company instead of trivial mining operations
and resources draining or just a formal tax-paying,
has completely voluntarily, not under compulsion assumed a mission
of a social partnership and social network development.
Yes, social network is just what a mean.
And the process was going on, we could see it!
I'm sure this generation, these children,
let us calling them "yukosovtsy", they are growing up,
they are students yet but they will say their solid word.
I can say these children - they are definitely different,
they can no longer be neither intimidated nor silenced,
if they do not like something.
This new generation of Russians is growing,
and it was Yukos who has planted the seeds;
and I am absolutely sure they’ll sprout up.
But the region has lost both economically and socially.
This network is dead, but our state continues talking
about social responsibility, calls businesses to be socially responsible,
and organizes a public flogging for those
who are socially irresponsible from its point of view.
At the same time while all Yukos’s assets in Tomsk region
have passed into ownership of Rosneft and Gazprom,
well, where was their social responsibility?
Where were these projects?
Why didn’t these respectful companies support Yukos’s good initiatives?
Well, they would be able even to call them their own way...
Or at least they may suggest something alternative,
an alternative to the schoolchildren's program ‘Civilization’,
to the molding of young leadership,
an alternative to the universities’ support
as it has been organized by Yukos.
We do not see any of this, though we do see taxes paid.
The only thing the governor tried to force them to do
was their sponsoring of the local football team “Tom”.
Well, you see, they refused to do it too.
There is nothing ... What I'm just saying, they were not ready
to support even this very social, very significant for masses project.
There are only questions... No, there is nothing to comment, you see?
With Yukos existed there was a social responsibility of business;
with Yukos collapsed there is none of it, we are not saying
"Good job, they pay taxes and so on!” any more.
It’s a medical fact that there are no social projects
as those of Yukos in our district.
Valeria Matsur, a Senior Lecturer of the Tomsk State University, a native of Strezhevoy city: When Yukos came to our city, a new level of professionalism
and, probably, of social responsibility has become noticeable immediately.
I was a leavers' class schoolgirl that time, and for me
(don’t you mind if I start with myself?)
Yukos has given, well, a start to my course of life, if I may say so;
all pupils have got such a good support,
all pupils and so-called elite, specialized classes, arts’ classes and so on.
We attended preparatory courses;
Yukos organized special social programs for us;
then we participated in various projects of the New Civilization.
All this could somehow indirectly affect our course of life,
giving us a chance to create a kind of portfolio,
to discover our potentials.
As for the city, a scale of living has grown;
people realized that even though they live in a small town,
but good prospects are opened for them.
The same has to do with young professionals.
There were always some business-trips, educational trips;
very good professionals from Yukos were brought here
to work in oil-producing industry.
Talking about social development,
there were programs for retirees as well.
For example, who wanted to leave Strezhevoy to spend the rest of life somewhere else,
there were issued special certificates for them by Yukos.
There was a program for young families support too:
all young professionals were provided with everything they needed.
Well, in terms of social life, of some, perhaps, activities and entertainments,
well… a “house of culture” was not just built
but altered and made as a system incomparable with one we had before.
What else has been done? I should mention an Internet Center ...
It was there before, but thanks to Yukos it has become bigger,
equipped with modern devices and very affordable one.
That was an important characteristic of Yukos activities:
all these services were absolutely affordable for the entire population,
regardless of their income level.
There is nothing like this now.
I would describe a present situation as a very sad one.
Since my parents live in Strezhevoy, and while they are not able to leave it...
Well, of course, maybe it would be better to avoid the subject,
but when Yukos left Strezhevoy, many people of retirement age
but still good professionals have been discharged under the pretence
that they had to give way to youth still presented there;
but the same time a lot of young people have lost their jobs
supposedly due to the lack of financial means.
The city is dying.
Well, some institutions once established by Yukos still works,
they are now in the hands of … perhaps, others, companies;
and there is no consolidating organization
with a real capability to hold the city.
It is very sad.
Journalist: Well, as far as I know you’ve received a grant from Yukos, haven’t you?
Was it when you were studying here in Tomsk?
Valeria Matsur: Yes. We had a scholarship;
as far as I remember it was called a corporate scholarship.
It was given for excellent results during a several training semesters.
As you, of course, know a normal students’ scholarship has been, and, probably,
still is very small, so this scholarship happened to be a substantial support.
Even more, being a financial support on the one hand,
on the other hand, it was still an acknowledgment of some merit
and could be also included into portfolio, could be one’s pride.
Journalist: Was it important for you as a student and for your classmates
to receive this scholarship from Yukos?
And what has happened to this scholarship after Yukos’ demise?
Valeria Matsur: Actually, of course, it was important,
because not everyone could get it;
even among the best ones there was a kind of… well, selection.
Secondly, having come from a small city
I was in a different financial position and, yes, it was a support.
Of course, this scholarship does not exist anymore
though there are others now.
But with Yukos scholarship gone,
I think, the university lost in some way, in particular,
because it embraced more people than any other scholarship.
And I wish there are more scholarships, not only for students
but, let's say, for many young professionals
and post-graduate students who definitely deserved it.
Journalis: What do you think Tomsk and, perhaps, high school’s community has lost …
has lost …with a demise of Yukos?
Valeria Matsur: We've lost probably an institution
which always took into account new trends in education,
and took into account not just an image of "oh, university, it is great!
Let it teach new specialists for us!",
but thought about it in terms of social responsibility.
There were always ‘Yukos hand’ in various projects,
and some important events there.
And I would say once again,
everything was done on a very professional level.
Indeed, they always acted not "for show",
but in sincere, responsible manner, as a company
which takes into account public opinion
and an opinion of population in general,
and young people, from different audiences…
Yukos expended its energies, it really did.
With understanding, and one could always turn to.
They have even had a special service in Strezhevoy.
It was a kind of social workers… social service where any student,
having studying related problems, could come,
and ask for help and get one.
It was such a service, very helpful,
even in dealing with some day-to-day difficulties, human problems.