I confirm that we plan meeting with members of Mr.Khodorkovski's team, though it is yet unknown when. I don't think it will be tomorrow, he said.
RIA Novosti has learnt that Anton Dreil, lawyer for Mikhail Khodorkovski, is now in London.
The press secretary has also confirmed the information that his consortium is ready to pay YUKOS's debts to the Russian state in return for Khodorkovski's shares.
We propose paying the sums to the Russian government. For that the shares have to de-frozen and we would like to have them in return, he added.
Earlier on Friday, some foreign news agencies said that the British consortium of private investors had proposed to the Russian leadership to pay the YUKOS tax debts and, if necessary, meet the material claims put to share-holder Khodorkovski in return for his YUKOS share.
The group of financial investors are ready to buy the YUKOS controlling interest and do everything for the stabilisation and further work of the oil company. Financial investors are very much interested in cooperation with the Russian government and hope for its help in the operational management of the company and elaboration of its development strategy, the message says.
In case of purchase of the controlling interest, the authors propose to the Russian government forming half of the YUKOS board of directors, including appointing the chairman.
Financial investors would also like to coordinate with the Russian government the appointment of all the top managers of the company.
Readiness to carry out the deal in the least of time is voiced in the message.
Asked by the RIA Novosti correspondent to provide more details of the consortium, its press secretary said they do not reveal the make-up and the only thing to say is that Konstantin Kagalovski, former YUKOS share-holder and employee, is among the top figures.
