The newspaper says that the offices of the Russian largest oil company have already been searched in Russia and Switzerland. According to information of The Independent, Russian authorities need documents, which could be attached to the criminal cases of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev.
Former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Yukos co-owner Platon Lebedev are currently in the investigation ward. The General Prosecutor's Office charges them with the creation of a criminal group engaged in financial machinations during the privatization of state property in Russia in the early 1990s, and also with gross tax evasion.
The news that the Russian side has approached British authorities with this request has appeared after a certain London law firm linked with Yukos sent a written inquiry to the British Home Office. The lawyers requested them to clarify the situation with the provision of mutual legal assistance between the Russian and British authorities.
The British Home Office answered that it could neither confirm nor disprove any such inquiry. At the same time, the Home Office added that it had requested lawyers to submit their considerations, which they deemed as necessary, as soon as possible.
RIA Novosti has not yet got any confirmation or disproof from the British Home Office. The press service of the British Home Office is closed until Tuesday, May 4, due to holidays.
The Russian General Prosecutor's Office has not yet provided any commentaries.
