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Investigators file official requests for info on foreign accounts of Bashneft’s ex-CEO

Former head of Bashneft oil company Ural Rakhimov is accused of embezzlement and legalization of shares of fuel and energy enterprises in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan

UFA, March 9. /TASS/. Investigators have requested from foreign banks information on accounts and deposits of former head of Bashneft oil company Ural Rakhimov, accused of embezzlement and legalization of shares of fuel and energy enterprises in the Russian republic of Bashkortostan, his lawyer told TASS on Thursday.

That is why, the term of investigation is extended quarterly, Sergey Makarenko said. The current investigation term expires on April 28, 2017.

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Bashneft privatization deal turned out to be highly beneficial for government — VTB CEO

"The time limit is extended month after month on the grounds that no answers to investigators’ requests have come from foreign banks," Sergey Makarenko said. According to Makarenko, the process is indefinite and that is why "it is unclear how long this will continue".

Rakhimov himself is in Austria. Earlier, a Vienna court denied his extradition to Russia.

The Russian court acknowledged that a series of privatization deals, under which the fuel and energy enterprises in the Republic of Bashkortostan were assigned to the ownership of Ural Rakhimov, a son of Bashkortostan ex-head Murtaza Rakhimov, were conducted with violations.

According to the investigation, Rakhimov used the position of his father and organized theft of controlling stakes in a number of public companies worth more than 130 bln rubles ($2.2 bln).

Then Rakhimov provided financial transactions with the stolen property, namely selling a stake in JSFC Sistema and other legal entities, totaling more than $2.5 bln, investigators say.

At the same time, according to lawyers, Rakhimov was not the owner of republic’s fuel-and-energy sector enterprises, but only had controlling interest.

In April 2014, Ural Rakhimov was charged with major misappropriation or embezzlement and money laundering. The charges were brought against him in absentia. In November 2014, Rakhimov gave evidence in the case, staying abroad.

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