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Special task force police assist in Master Bank search

The search was conducted amid the reports that the Central Bank revoked Master Bank's license

© ITAR-TASS/Pavel Smertin

MOSCOW, November 20, /ITAR-TASS/. Special task force police units were called to the Master Bank in central Moscow on Wednesday to assist in the search of its office within the framework of a criminal probe, a law-enforcement source told Itar-Tass without elaborating.

"Taking part in the search are agents of the Interior Ministry's Department for Economic Security and Combating Corruption. The inspectors are seizing bank documents," police said.

The search was conducted amid the reports that the Central Bank revoked Master Bank's license. Central Bank governor Elvira Nabiullina said on Wednesday that the Bank's assets fell short of two billion roubles.

An Itar-Tass correspondent saw two special task force minibuses blocking two streets leading to the Bank. Camouflaged police are keeping watch near the building. The yard of the office is packed with money collectors' cars.

The Bank's main office has been closed. A Bank employee on the doorstep tells the clients to visit the nearest Bank's office in Pyatnitskaya Street where they can file a statement demanding compensation of their deposits.

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