Swiss evidence could prove crucial in Russian corruption case
A Russian prosecutor, Nikolai Volkov, says documents provided by Switzerland could enable him to bring charges against the Russian business tycoon, Boris Berezovski, for embezzlement and money laundering.
Speaking at a press conference in Berne on Friday, Volkov said the hundreds of files he had received from the Swiss authorities could provide crucial evidence in his investigation into possible corruption at the state airline, Aeroflot.
The Russian prosecutor said he would decide by September whether charges would be brought against the Russian business tycoon, Boris Berezovski, and two former Aeroflot executives.
Berezovski is suspected of embezzling $700 million (SFr 1.162 billion) from the airline and laundering the money through two Swiss companies, Forus and Andava, which he helped to create.
Volkov confirmed that more than $900 million had been passed through Swiss firms, but declined to say how much belonged to Aeroflot. He also indicated that his talks with the Swiss authorities could lead to other suspects being identified.
Volkov’s discussions with the Swiss authorities also focused on a possible fraud case involving a $4.8 billion loan to Russia from the International Monetary Fund. He said he had reason to believe that this money is or has been in Switzerland. Russia is shortly expected to ask Switzerland for legal assistance in the case.
Other issues discussed included a corruption case, implicating the Swiss-based construction company, Mabetex. Its bosses are suspected of baying bribes to Kremlin officials in exchange for lucrative building contracts.
Volkov said he hoped cooperation between Swiss banks and the Swiss authorities could be speeded up to help Moscow press ahead with its inquiries. He also indicated that in the early 1990s Switzerland had a reputation in Russia as safe heaven for depositing money because of its impenetrable banking secrecy.
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