Mr. Jordan said he was the owner of the Sputnik fund, which had a stake in YUKOS. According to him, Western shareholders invested billions of dollars in YUKOS, but their interests are not represented in YUKOS’s dispute with the authorities. The businessman said he had worked for 15 years in Russia, and he knew how to talk with Russian officials.

Mr. Jordan said he had experience in settling corporate conflicts. He helped pull SIDANCO out of bankruptcy and took part in the restructuring of the NTV television channel and Gazprom-Media. As a result of that restructuring, control over Gazprom-Media passed from the disgraced media baron Vladimir Gusinsky to Gazprom. It is believed that the Kremlin approved Boris Jordan’s appointment as Gazprom-Media General Director, but he was dismissed after NTV broadcast a TV program that infuriated President Putin.

The businessman said he had not yet discussed his plans with the Russian government. He added that he was just listening to what government officials said about the YUKOS affair.

In his letter to YUKOS minority shareholders, Mr. Jordan offered his ideas on how to negotiate with the government. In his opinion, YUKOS can pay its lenders and the tax authorities if its debts are calculated in accordance with the law. But it is necessary that minority shareholders be elected to the Board of Directors. A change of the company’s management should also be discussed. Mr. Jordan noted that he did not see progress in YUKOS’s talks with the government and the Tax Ministry. He said the experience of other companies showed that compromise was possible, and he could only suggest that either the management was unable to hold talks or government officials did not want to talk with the managers.

Investors welcomed Mr. Jordan’s initiative, but YUKOS officials say they do not need mediators, the newspaper concludes.