LOCAL OFFICIALS USE OMON TROOPS AGAINST GAS INDUSTRY.

Regional political elites have deployed the elite police units to prevent Gazprom from turning off gas supplies to governments and industries which have not paid their bills, Kommersant-Daily said June 10. Gazprom insists that it must turn off the gas to industries that have not paid their bills, but it is illegal for the gas company to turn off power to the housing and government units. According to the paper, local officials fear both a loss in income and control, and a rising tide of unemployment, if delinquent firms are forced to close.

100 Coal Pits to Be Closed.