MOSCOW, March 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's environmental watchdog intends next week to hand over to the natural resources watchdog materials on the revocation of a number of licenses from a subsidiary of the bankrupt oil company Yukos, the watchdog's deputy head said Friday.
Oleg Mitvol said violations of environmental legislation concern three oil fields and "will be specified next week."
The Russian Natural Resources Ministry said in a news release that the environmental watchdog's inspectors have discovered that Samaraneftgaz is producing oil in a national park in the Samara Region on the Volga.
The ministry called it "a flagrant violation" of environmental legislation, which prohibits any economic activities in national parks and nature preserves.
Russian regulators have carried out several crackdowns on oil companies in recent months. Royal Dutch Shell, TNK-BP, and Russia's LUKoil have all faced possible license revocation over breaches of environmental rules and contract agreements.
