PJSC LUKOIL (LUKOY)

[NYBob]

Yukos probed over ex-spy's death -

Alexander Litvinenko


Alexander Litvinenko suspected the Kremlin
of poisoning him
Russia's chief prosecutor says he is investigating
whether a former boss of the oil firm Yukos may be
linked to the death of ex-agent Alexander Litvinenko.

The prosecutor-general's office said it was "checking
the version" that former Yukos manager Leonid Nevzlin
could be among those involved in the poisoning.

Mr Nevzlin's spokesman said the suggestion was
"ridiculous", Reuters news agency reported.

Mr Nevzlin was close to jailed tycoon
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who ran Yukos.

The prosecutor-general's statement said Mr Nevzlin
and some other ex-Yukos executives were wanted
internationally "over serious crimes".

It said there were indications of a link between
the poisoning of Mr Litvinenko and attempted murder
of Dmitry Kovtun - who met him in London before
he fell ill - and "the charges that
several Yukos managers committed crimes against
the life and health of citizens".

Demise of Yukos

Mr Nevzlin, who denies any wrongdoing in connection
with Yukos, is now living in Israel.

Leonid Nevzlin in Tel Aviv, Israel, 31 May 2005


Mr Nevzlin fled to Israel after prosecutors acted
against Yukos
The prosecutor-general's office says it is taking
steps towards the possible extradition of
the Russian suspects living abroad.

Former secret service officer Mr Litvinenko died
in London on 23 November and his body was found
to contain a massive dose of the radioactive
isotope polonium-210.

The case - which remains shrouded in mystery -
has strained relations between
Britain and Russia.

A statement made by Mr Litvinenko before he died
accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of
involvement in his death - but the Kremlin
has dismissed any suggestion it was involved
as "nonsense".

Mr Khodorkovsky is facing new money-laundering
charges along with his jailed
colleague Platon Lebedev.

Most of the enormous assets of Yukos have been
taken over by the state-controlled oil company,
Rosneft.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6212999.stm