Voracious Russian Tax Ministry Invented Mext Fine For Yukos

Russian government again demanded from oil company Yukos an extra 34 billion roubles ($1.2 billion) for unpaid back-tax, according to the Interfax report.

The tax ministry demanded that sum from Yukos' key production unit Yuganskneftegas to cover 2003.

That news sent Yukos' shares down 10% in trading in Moscow. The company?s spokesmen said they feared that Yuganskneftegaz will be sold too cheaply.