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SocGen sees Russia as priority market, monitors situation around Rosbank

Rosbank CEO Vladimir Golubkov and Senior Vice President Tamara Polyanitsina were detained in Moscow on Wednesday

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

PARIS, May 17 (Itar-Tass) - Societe Generale (SocGen) closely monitors the development of the situation around the Russian unit Rosbank after its board chairman and senior vice-president were detained on Wednesday on suspicion of receiving a bribe.

“Russia is one of the main markets where the company sees a big potential for growth,” said an official statement of SocGen’s leadership, which Itar-Tass received on Thursday.

“Societe Generale closely monitors the situation in its Russian unit in close cooperation with the Russian authorities,” it said. Societe Generale together with Rosbank have ensured a normal functioning of the bank under the interim management of Igor Antonov, and under the supervision of Didier Hauguel, Group Chief Country Officer for Russia at Societe Generale Group and Rosbank’s Chairman of the Board of Directors, the statement said.

SocGen makes no further comment as to the situation around Rosbank that has found itself involved in a corruption scandal.

Rosbank CEO Vladimir Golubkov and Senior Vice President Tamara Polyanitsina were detained in Moscow on Wednesday.

Vladimir Golubkov received in 2012-2013 more than one million US dollars and he was detained when he was receiving the last part of the demanded sum, spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee (SK) Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass.

“Criminal proceedings were opened against Chairman of the Board of Rosbank Vladimir Golubkov and his subordinate under Article 204 of the RF Criminal Code (commercial bribery on a large scale),” he confirmed.

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