Thursday the working group, headed by deputy industry and trade minister Denis Manturov, will be discussing the destiny of the problem-facing enterprises working for the defense complex. Among others considered will be the Central research institute “Dolphin”, the developer of the equipment for nuclear submarines. Along with other organizations the institute secures the technical support for unceasing duty by the nuke-weapon carriers. However, it failed to avoid bankruptcy.      

The story dates back to 1998 where during the crisis period the “Dolphin” got involved in the paper crediting scheme by “Russian Bank of Property Trusteeship”. The institute has been in debt since then.   

External management was imposed on the “Dolphin” after a series of civil suits. The institute’s premises being located in Moscow, it is attractive with its area of 53,000 square meters. It’s been for long that the attitude by the state was not clear regarding this strategic enterprise. However, in 2007 Sergei Ivanov gave a commission to assure the interests by the state during the course of bankruptcy proceeding.  

In his letter Denis Manturov, the deputy industry minister, noted that the external manager of the institute Viktor Isaichenkov had not taken measures for restoration of the institute’s solvency. On the contrary, according to Rosprom information, he made attempts for restructuring or disposal of property of the enterprise engaged in the execution of the state defense order, about which he had been warned by the Nikulinskaya Inter-district Prosecution Office.

In March 2008 a decision appeared signed among others by bankruptcy manager Viktor Isaichenkov and the head of Shipbuilding Department of Rosprom Leonid Strugov about passing the works and the documentation of “Dolphin” to other research institute. Significantly, that document was approved by the head of Rosprom Andrei Dutov on 15 May 2008. However, the Rosprom itself was liquidated with the President’s decree on 12 May 2008. 

Viktor Isaichenkov told to a Novaya Gazeta correspondent that there is an initiated government’s decision of passing what was done by “Dolphin” to a financially stronger enterprise. However, that decision has not been executed yet, as it takes time. Mr. Isaichenkov stressed that no violations have been done and can be done and the defense strategic component would not be affected.    

“The state has formulated its attitude in terms of saving the institute” affirms Georgy Popov, the technical director of “Dolphin”. “However, one can get an impression that during the period of reforming the executive bodies a group of interested persons have their own intentions. Some would like to get the territory in Moscow with the area of tens of thousands of square meters not loaded with strategic production, and some would like to get rid of a problem enterprise, while our competitors become actual monopolists”.