Two Russian officers appeared in Malaga, March 18-an investigator of the Prosecutor General's office and a police colonel. They met Miguel Angel Torres, investigating judge who presides the money-laundering proceedings. Spanish police officers attended the conference.
The gathering agreed on information exchange channels, and made an understanding for "police summitry" to take place within a few days and involve spokesmen of Spain, the Netherlands and Russia-countries where Yukos-related companies are registered.
Spain's Interior Ministry placed an official statement on its website, March 12, concerning investigation progress. 41 suspects had been detained by then-Spanish, French, Finnish, Ukrainian and Russian nationals. The statement was referring to Yukos, problem-laden and controversial Russian petroleum mammoth.
The investigation had come at a tentative end haven of big sums made by illegally removed Yukos assets. To all appearances, transfers were made to a Dutch-based company for reinvestment via its Spanish branch, assumes the statement.
"We don't know anything about the affair. It's up to Spanish law-enforcement agencies alone," Alexander Shadrin, Yukos press secretary, said to Novosti on a previous occasion.
Steven Theede, Yukos CEO, addressed Spain's Interior Minister to offer cooperation with the investigation. Neither Yukos nor its branches or corporate affiliates ever had whatever registered business in Spain, and any bank accounts there, he reassured in a written message.
Media outlets suspect a Yukos employee could have transferred the money without authorization from the company top.
