Novikov described as "deliberate lies" the allegation that Kiriyenko had bought property in Chicago with a view to moving there for permanent residence. News outlets spreading the information cite sources in the U.S. Congress, he said.
According to him, the Congressmen quoted in the reports don't judge Kiriyenko; they just ask questions. "Congressmen have the right to ask questions and to obtain answers to them. As well as to make these answers public," he acknowledged.
Kiriyenko abstained from comment. His spokesman put this down to a busy schedule. The presidential envoy is currently visiting the town of Kstovo, in the Nizhny Novgorod region, together with Vagit Alekperov, CEO of the Russian petroleum giant Lukoil.
Russian news media quote five U.S. Congressmen as alleging that Kiriyenko is complicit in the embezzlement of a $5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund during his term as Premier, April 24 to August 23, 1998. It will be remembered that the Kiriyenko Cabinet was sent into resignation following the August 17 default on foreign debt payments. The lawmakers have reportedly sent a letter to State Secretary Colin Powell, in which they claim that Kiriyenko has bought property in Chicago and applied for a green card. Under the U.S. law, green cards shall be granted to foreigners who have invested $1 million in the American economy.
Acting on a request from the Kiriyenko staff earlier this year, the Audit Chamber carried out an inquiry into how the Bank of Russia had used the IMF loan, but did not find any violations.
