Yukos Fires Wanted Exec

Russia's Yukos said Monday that it has dismissed an executive wanted by Russian authorities.

Yukos chief executive Simon Kukes said the decision to fire Mikhail Brudno as interim head of refining and marketing operations was dictated by the company's aim "to rigorously follow international standards of corporate governance and to guarantee all shareholders a completely independent management for Yukos."

Brudno, along with other shareholders of the Yukos holding company Group Menatep, is under investigation by Russian authorities who say they have issued an international warrant for his arrest. Brudno, who has lived in Israel since last year, will be replaced by Pyotr Zolotaryov, previously first vice president for economics and finance.