Konstantin Demidov
From 1970 – Deputy Director of the Administration of Pipelines under Construction; from 1973 – Head of the Inspectorate under the Gas Industry Minister's Office.
“He despised scheming, unscrupulous and dishonest people...”
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As a general rule, issues related to major accidents with fatalities were discussed in closed meetings of the Collegium only. This information was not reported or published anywhere.
Sabit Orudzhev repeatedly chose to ignore this rule. At one of the meetings, the Head of the First Division stood up and said:
“Mr. Orudzhev, you must have forgotten that this issue is to be considered at a closed meeting.”
Sabit Orudzhev stood up and replied indignantly to the stickler for rules:
“The Collegium cannot have a closed meeting when the issue concerns all of us! If an accident occurs somewhere today, it can happen somewhere else tomorrow. We must take joint measures to prevent accidents!”
The matter was closed, as his points were indisputable.
Tough but fair
He despised scheming, unscrupulous and dishonest people. When an official was found to have concealed negative facts, Sabit Orudzhev exclaimed: “I have no need for sugar-coating or people who hide the truth from their minister!”
He found lack of restraint, hastiness and breaches of official etiquette to be very irritating. Once, he was given the floor at a meeting devoted to the pre-development of the Tyumen Region's gas fields. At the same moment, the Deputy Minister for Capital Construction who had just returned from a business trip to that area said: “Let me report instead! I have a better knowledge of this issue!” He was given the floor, and his report was indeed a good one. However, Sabit Orudzhev told him after the meeting: “I don't need a deputy minister who knows more than the minister.” The Deputy Minister had nothing left to do but resign and go to work at another ministry.