RUSSIA: DID PROSECUTORS QUESTION POTANIN?
A spokeswoman for the Interros holding on 29 April denied media reports that Interros President Vladimir Potanin was
questioned earlier that day by the Prosecutor-General's Office, ITAR-TASS reported. Ekho Moskvy, newsru.com, and
"Russkii kurer," all citing unnamed Interros sources, reported the interrogation, adding that Potanin left
Russia for Israel immediately after being questioned. The Prosecutor-General's Office refused to comment on the
reports. Interros shares fell by 6.5 percent on 29 April on the strength of the rumors, strana.ru reported on 30 April.
However, "Gazeta" reported, citing unnamed Interros sources, on 30 April that Potanin was indeed questioned,
perhaps in connection with the 28 April murder of former Federal Bankruptcy Service Director Georgii Tal. Tal headed the
bankruptcy agency during a 1998-1999 conflict between Interros and the Tyumen Oil Company (TNK) over the firm Sidanko.
In 1998, Interros was the major shareholder in Sidanko, but after a three-year battle in which TNK succeeded in having
two Sidanko subsidiaries declared bankrupt, Interros sold its Sidanko stake to TNK in 2001. Less than a year later, TNK
announced a major merger deal with British Petroleum (BP). RC Copyright (c) 2004. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the
permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
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RUSSIA IN FACTS
