Putin Pressed to Prosecute Chelsea Boss

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/russia/article/0,2763,1076055,00.html


Abramovich is next businessman on Kremlin
hit list

Nick Paton Walsh in Moscow
Sunday November 2, 2003
The Observer

Russian multi-millionaire and Chelsea Football Club
owner Roman Abramovich is the next target on
the hit list of Kremlin hardliners with a grudge
against big businesses and the wealthy men who
run them, according to documents seen by The
Observer.

After last week's arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky,
Russia's richest man, as part of investigations into
his Yukos oil company, the Russian prosecutor's
office is under pressure to launch an investigation
into how the company that made part of
Abramovich's fortune was privatised during the
political turmoil of the 1990s.

It comes after an MP this weekend filed an official
complaint alleging widespread irregularities by
businessmen, including Abramovich.

The filing of the complaint against the privatisation
of Sibneft resembles the start of the investigative
procedure against Yukos in July.