Wanted Yukos Shareholders Meet Bush in White House

MosNews ^ | 04.02.2005

[Lukasz]

U.S. President George Bush yesterday hosted at the White House two Israeli-Russian businessmen involved in the Yukos oil major who are wanted by Moscow for alleged tax offenses.

Mikhail Brudno and Vladimir Dubov, both shareholders in the giant Russian oil enterprise Yukos, were invited to a White House breakfast as guests of Congressmen Tom Lantos and Christopher Cox, Israel’s Haaretz daily reported.

But U.S. Ambassador to Russia Alexander Vershbow said that Brudno and Dubov are staying in the United States legally and cannot be arrested.

“They are both, as I understand it, dual citizens of Israel and Russia, and they have valid U.S. visas. That gives them the freedom to travel to the United States,” Vershbow said in an interview with Interfax on Friday.

“There are no charges against either of these men in the U.S. legal system, so there is no basis for arresting them,” he said.

The Ambassador pointed out that the U.S. does not have an extradition treaty with Russia.

The two men currently reside in Israel, along with business partner Leonid Nevzlin. Following a Russian request for their extradition, the two are wanted by Interpol.

Brudno, Dubov and Nevzelin claim that the arrest warrants against them were politically motivated and issued at the order of the Russian president as part of a crackdown on Yukos.

Yukos and its major stockholders have supported centrist, democratic Russian political parties, and donated large sums of money to them.

[Lukasz]

Yukos, just like other oil companies, used legal tax mechanism to reduce the taxes. Out of 24 per cent of the binding income tax, Yukos paid around 12-15 per cent. It should be added that e.g. Sibneft concern (Controlled by Kremlin’s loyal businessman Roman Abramovich) pays around 5 per cent of the income tax, and the aluminum concern RusAl around 3 per cent (out of 24). Both companies are loyal to the Kremlin; the Tax Office and the prosecution authorities have not applied any sanctions against them.

Source: Center for Eastern Studies, Warsaw, Poland
Putin after re-election

[Lukasz]

Eastern European ping list

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FRmail me to be added or removed from this Eastern European ping list ping list.

[Imal]

Sounds confusing.

It also sounds like if Russia keeps working at it, the tax code there might eventually become as screwed up as it is here in the U.S.

But they'll really have to want to mess it up if they expect to achieve the level of absurdity enshrined in the American tax code.

[maestro]

Wanted Yukos Shareholders Meet Bush in White House .....

Ah,....U.S. gas prices to rise so as to pay for Yukos mis-adventures.

P.T. Barnum,....

"There's a America Sucker born every day!?"

.....Go U.S. 'BP' oil prices up too!

/sarcasm $$$$$$$...?

[monday]

"Brudno, Dubov and Nevzelin claim that the arrest warrants against them were politically motivated and issued at the order of the Russian president as part of a crackdown on Yukos. "

Putin has ruined the business climate of Russia for years to come.. No one can trust him as long as he is in power.

[monday]

"Ah,....U.S. gas prices to rise so as to pay for Yukos mis-adventures."

? What are you talking about?

[jb6]

If that is so, then what is to be said of our government with Martha Stewart, Enron, Tyco, etc. I guess Al Capone should have been left in power, because God forbid, he was as honost a broker as Khadarkovsky.

Oh and while we're on the subject, Yushchenko is doing the same thing and more, planning on reversing most of the privatizations. I'll wait real hard to hear everyone's criticism there, while he and Ukraine join the corrupt EU.

[jb6]

Putin has ruined the business climate of Russia for years to come.. No one can trust him as long as he is in power.

Yours is a pipe dream:

Russia repays debt to IMF

World Bank chief: Russian economy doing well

MPs to give up some privileges (Russia cuts government)

[Destro]

So how much did these foreign citizens have to pay to meet with Bush to try and influence him? At least they did not get to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom.

[Lukasz]

Well, IMO this is discreet signal for Putin that Bush administration isn’t happy with this how he acting recently. For sure some American investors have business in Russia and nobody would like to end his carrier there like Yukos owners. I know that they weren’t earned their fortunes legally in the past but this don’t means that Putin or any other political fraction may acting similarly now.

[Destro]

Lucky for us Russia did not get involved when they broke up the Trusts during the ealry 20th century.

[jb6]

Why should it matter to you? Polish business is barred in Russia anyways, so you're left alone and no one buys your products there. You should be extremely happy, less contact between Poland and Russia, your heart's desire.

[Lukasz]

Sorry but our export to Russia increased by 60% in this year.

[jb6]

Sorry but our export to Russia increased by 60% in this year.

Really? Hmm how could this be in unfree, uncapitalist Russia. You must have had it so much better under Yeltsin. This just doesn't make sense. /sarcasm

[Lukasz]

Think what may happen if Russia would be really capitalistic and democratic. Other thing is that we aren’t starting with high level.

[jb6]

Think what may happen if Russia would be really capitalistic and democratic.

How about this: you get Poland that way and lead by example. You've got your work cut out for you.

[GarySpFc]

For sure some American investors have business in Russia and nobody would like to end his carrier there like Yukos owners. I know that they weren’t earned their fortunes legally in the past but this don’t means that Putin or any other political fraction may acting similarly now.

I invested in a Russian mutual fund and it is paying off handsomly.
One would have thought the Poles would have learned their lesson after the backlash they recieved from Russia over the Ukraine, but I am beginning to believe they never learn.

[Lukasz]

I absolutely have nothing against investments in Russia, I would like to see still progress there but it isn’t dependent only from Poland. The same is with Russian oil or gas, but without blackmails!

[Tailgunner Joe]

Wow Russia is being applauded by the biggest international socialist shakedown artists in the world. That proves they are a good investment. Not.

[Lukasz]

One would have thought the Poles would have learned their lesson after the backlash they recieved from Russia over the Ukraine, but I am beginning to believe they never learn.

Lesson? You still don’t catch that OUR vision (democracy, stability) won there?