Russia votes to allow private armies for energy giants

Russia’s parliament voted yesterday to allow the country’s two biggest energy monopolies, Gazprom and the state oil pipeline company Transneft, to employ and arm private security units. Under the deal, Russia’s interior ministry will supply Gazprom with guns from its own armoury.

Supporters of the plan say that Russia’s oil and gas installations – which are key to the country’s boom and burgeoning economic revival – have to be protected from terrorist attack at all cost.

guardian