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One criminal case dropped against Baturin

Baturin was accused of dodging over 23 million rubles of taxes in 2008

MOSCOW, January 17 (Itar-Tass) —— Investigators dropped one criminal case against businessman Viktor Baturin, the brother of the wife of former Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov.

Baturin was accused of dodging over 23 million rubles of taxes in 2008.

Victoria Tsyplenkova from the Moscow branch of the Russian Investigative Committee told Tass on Monday the case was closed “because of changes in the tax legislation.” However she said Baturin remains in debt to the government and the dodged amount will most likely be retrieved in a civilian case.

Baturin’s lawyer Igor Shabanov told Tass the case was closed as the limitation period has expired.

Baturin was arrested in November for another criminal charge related to an attempt to cash an 11-milion ruble faked promissory note of the Inteco Company of his sister Yelena Baturina.

He denied the charges saying it was impossible to forge the bill which he received as debt payment from Inteco. “I am the victim who was robbed,” he said.

Shabanov said investigators are checking whether the promissory note was faked or was authentic.

Baturin is to stay in custody until late January and investigators made it clear they will ask the court to prolong his arrest.

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