Russian authorities are trying to build a case against ...
Great Britain?s Home Office is likely to consider an application from the Russian authorities to allow them to raid the London offices of oil giant Yukos, The Independent reports.
According to The Independent, a London law firm, understood to be connected to Yukos, has written to the Home Office asking for clarification over any possible approach from Russia to the British Government for ?mutual legal assistance?.
The Home Office responded by saying it was unable to ?confirm or deny the existence of any such request?, although it urged the solicitors to ?submit such representations as you consider appropriate as soon as possible?.
According to The Independent, Russian authorities are trying to build a case against ex-CEO of Yukos Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev arrested last year. Both deny the fraud and tax evasion charges brought against politically motivated.
Earlier Yukos?s offices in Switzerland were searched. However, while the Swiss authorities co-operated with the Russian investigation ? bank accounts worth ?several billion? Swiss francs have been frozen ? there is no guarantee the UK Government will do the same, writes The Independent.
