15 June 2004 16:03
YUKOS WRITES TO PM WITH TAX DEBT PROPOSALS
MOSCOW. June 15 (Interfax) - The management of oil major Yukos last week wrote to Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov with
proposals for the settlement of the company's tax debts.
Yukos asks the government to restructure tax debts, for which the companies assets must be unfrozen, a company
spokesman told Interfax. "If the assets are unfrozen, Yukos can clear about 70% of its tax arrears before the end
of the year," he said.
Yukos has approached Menatep shareholders and asked for help in resolving the tax payment problem.
"The company approached the main shareholders asking for their participation," he said, adding that the
Menatep Group could guarantee payments on part of the debt.
"The company also asks shareholders to support the decision to make an additional share issue to clear tax
debts," he said.
Yukos Press Secretary Alexander Shadrin confirmed that Yukos had written to Fradkov, but did not say what the content
of the letter was.
The Tax Ministry accuses Yukos of evading taxes through internal offshore companies. The ministry completed a tax
check on Yukos for 2000 on April 14 and said the company owed 99.37 billion rubles in back taxes and fines.
[Interfax] |
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