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marvas wrote:obvious meme incoming

The lead spokeswoman for newly installed EU foreign policy chief Frederica Mogherini is married to a partner in a Brussels public relations firm that lobbies for Russian state-owned natural-gas monopoly Gazprom.

Spokesperson Catherine Ray married Thomas Barros-Tastets in France on October 19, 2013. Barros-Tastets is a partner in the Brussels branch of the G+ lobbying firm. His online biography states that he "helps to coordinate the European part of a worldwide consortium which advises a major international energy company on communications and public affairs."

Although the "major international energy company" is not named, Barros-Tastets is frequently referenced in the media as "a consultant in European public affairs for Gazprom." An August 2013 announcement that he was appointed a partner at G+ states that he "is an adviser to Gazprom in its dealings with the EU competition authorities."

The EU's Transparency Register lists "Diversified Energy Communications (for Gazprom Export)" as one of G+'s major clients, generating annual turnover of between 300,000 and 350,000 euros. Barros-Tastets is listed there as one of the firm's employees "accredited for access to European Parliament premises."