01 June 2004 18:21
Former Russian chief banker wants to save Yukos from bankruptcy
Moscow, 1 June: Viktor Gerashchenko, a deputy of the State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, and former chairman
of the Central Bank of Russia, told ITAR-TASS on Tuesday [1 June] that if he is elected chairman of Russia's oil
major Yukos he would do his utmost to prevent the company from going bankrupt.
"First of all, I would appeal against the decision of the arbitration court, which is unjustified," he
said. On May 26, the arbitration court ruled that Yukos should pay the 99.375 billion roubles in back taxes demanded by
the Tax Ministry.
He noted that there were loopholes in Russia's tax laws, which were legally and successfully used not only by
Yukos, but by other companies as well. But Yukos is being singled out and forced to pay taxes, he said. "Imperfect
laws should not be applied post factum," he said.
It would be "extremely stupid to bankrupt Yukos", he said, noting that it would not be profitable for the
state to get rid of such a major oil company.
Gerashchenko has been nominated as the company's chairman, with elections scheduled for 24 June.
[Prime-TASS news agency] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
