New intelligence found connecting Kulczyk to Łukoil president Alekperow

The note says that Jan Kulczyk met Wagit Alekperow, Łukoil's president in October 2002 in London, although Kulczyk earlier denied having any contact with Łukoil. They talked about plans of a merger of PKN Orlen with Rafineria Gdańska and the likelihood that the majority stake in the new company would go to the Russians. The Russian party would have thus gained control over oil port Naftoport, which is a key company for Poland's power security. Kulczyk supposedly assured Alekperow he would help him to become the owner of the new entity. A sum of USD 1 billion was also mentioned, too little to be the price of both companies and so was probably the remuneration for the mediator for help in taking over the firms. It is also said that the October 2002 meeting was not Kulczyk's only meeting with the management of Łukoil. All indicators are that the real question behind the affair is not about which company would supply PKN Orlen with oil, but who would help the Russians take over PKN Orlen and Rafineria Gdańska and earn millions. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A2, A4) D.W.