Russian president Vladimir Putin is certainly reaching for the top in hiring international talent for his flagship state-controlled companies. Having secured Gerhard Schröder, the former German chancellor, for Gazprom, the gas giant, Mr Putin is now pursuing Donald Evans, the former US commerce secretary, to chair Rosneft, the oil group.

Mr Schröder has been condemned - rightly - for accepting the Kremlin's gold. Mr Evans, a close friend of president George W. Bush, should turn down the offer or face even tougher criticism. More is at stake than his personal reputation. Russia must see the west practises what it preaches on fundamental questions such as the separation of private and public interests and the rule of law.