DEAL OR EXILE: Royal Dutch Shell PLC and its partners reached an agreement to pay a substantial annual dividend to the Russian government as part of a deal to salvage the $20 billion Sakhalin-2 project. The move demonstrates just how far major Western oil companies apparently must go to remain in the good graces of oil-producing countries such as Russia, as governments tighten control over natural resources.
The previously undisclosed agreement was part of a settlement that ended months of pressure from Russian regulators who had threatened to shut down Sakhalin-2, a huge oil and natural-gas project in Russia’s remote Far East. The pact essentially changes the terms of the Sakhalin-2 agreement, while avoiding the legal complexities that would be involved in formally revising the contract. In addition to ceding a controlling stake in their flagship Sakhalin-2 project to the Russian state gas company last week, they will pay to the Russian government from 2010 onward a so-called priority dividend that will be linked to the price of oil.
Meanwhile, an application this week by a former Kremlin reporter for political asylum in the U.K. underscores the rising pressure on journalists in Russia and could fuel tensions between Moscow and London. Elena Tregubova, whose 2003 book provided an intimate and often unflattering look at Russia’s ruling elite, including President Vladimir Putin, said she is seeking asylum because she fears for her life if she returns to Russia.
Read Guy Chazan’s report from Moscow on Shell’s concession:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117755246476982934.html
Read Alan Cullison’s report from Moscow on Elena Tregubova:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117752305660982257.html
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
