Due to a recent reshuffle within the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vasilyev, former head of the interregional tax inspectorate no1 for work with major taxpayers (oil industry), has been appointed chief of the interregional inspectorate no 3 responsible for tobacco and alcohol markets.

Vladimir Vasilyev is known to have taken up the previous post in May 2004, at the very height of the campaign against Russia’s largest oil producer Yukos. According to the Russian daily Vedomosti, Vasilyev has declared his goal at the new post as leading the trade inspectorate “out of the slough where it is now stuck” and make it the second most efficient after the oil department. However, Vasilyev is reported to point out that his intention is not to fight the inspected companies, but to make sure that all taxes are paid timely and in full. It seems appropriate to remember in this context that major problems have already been caused by the Federal Tax Service to some of the multinational cigarette makers, i.e. JTI and PM, with court proceedings swaying back and forth. (vt)