Thessaloniki seems to have attracted the interest of state company “Russian Railways” which was planning to participate in the privatization of the Port of Piraeus.

Company president, Vladimir Yakunin, during the Conference of Railways of the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States, held in Astana Kazakhstan, stated:  “In terms of our common strategy with our Greek colleagues, the Port of Thessaloniki holds more interest for us. We decided not to disperse ourselves”, adding that, therefore, the “Russian Railways” administration has revised its plans on participating in the privatization of the Port of Piraeus.

It should be noted that V. Yakunin is considered one of the close associates and friends of President Putin and is on the list of persons who have suffered sanctions from the West, due to the Ukrainian crisis.

According to Yakunin, it is currently too early for there to be a reference to time deadlines within which the winner of the tender for said privatization would become known.

“The Greeks are currently setting these deadlines, and will probably move them, but I think that within the month, everything will be decided. Meanwhile, we are cooperating with the Greeks and other potential partners”, stated Mr. Yakunin.