A former Russian banker who survived a murder attempt in London last month has given his first interview since the attack, saying he told the police who he believes was behind the shooting.
German Gorbuntsov, who was shot several times outside his east London apartment, said four former business associates - one with alleged close ties to Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin - had ordered his assassination. Their names could not be revealed for legal reasons, the Mail on Sunday said.
"Our lawyers have passed British investigators gigantic amounts of information, which clearly indicated the motives of the suspected people," Gorbuntsov, who remains in hospital in a stable condition, told the British newspaper.
"They are the only ones with a serious motive. I simply have no one else who would want me to be dead."
All four are understood to deny the claims, the Mail said.
The 45-year-old said he believed the attack was linked with his decision to give a formal witness statement about an assassination attempt on his former partner Alexander Antonov in Moscow in 2009.
"Before, I was too scared to give this witness account. I did not feel safe," Gorbuntsov said.
"But life in London made me relaxed. I decided to change my mind as there was no threat to me here. Yet less than a month later I was shot, several days before the date set for me to formally give my statement."
Gorbuntsov revealed that he and his family would apply for political asylum in Britain, sayign he was certain he will be killed if he goes back to Russia.
He said the people who had ordered his killing were also behind a "raid" on his assets in Moldova four years ago and "made up" a criminal case against him there. Moldovan investigators want him over allegations of an illegal bank takeover and money-laundering.
