Putin’s Judo Friend Says Premier Didn’t Help Win Gazprom Deals

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin didn’t help his judo-playing friend of 40 years, Arkady Rotenberg, become a millionaire supplying pipes to natural-gas producer OAO Gazprom, the businessman said.

“Knowing high government officials has never hurt anyone in our country but it’s by far not helped everyone,” said Rotenberg, 58, in an interview in Kommersant today. “For me it’s unacceptable to use such connections.”