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Master Bank central office searched, special police forces summoned

No details have been disclosed of the operation

© ITAR-TASS/Pavel Smertin

MOSCOW, November 20. /ITAR-TASS/. The Bank of Russia has withdrawn an operating licence from finance giant Master Bank, Bank of Russia said.

The announcement coincided with the arrival at Master Bank's Moscow head office of economic security and anti-corruption department investigators. No details have been disclosed of the operation.

Two buses carrying officers of the OMON special task force have been parked near Master Bank's office. One has blocked a route running from the bank along Runovsky by-street, Itar-Tass reported from the scene. Another has blocked traffic in the direction of Ovchinnikovskaya embankment. Police in camouflage uniforms have surrounded the bank building while cash collection vehicles are parked in the bank yard.

Master Bank's head office does not operate on Wednesday and its doors are closed. A bank official outside is instructing visitors to apply to the nearest branch in Pyatnitskaya street to claim bank account insurance compensation.

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