-Caveat Lector- Russia: Aeroflot Laundered Money LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) - Russian investigators suspect that media mogul Boris Berezovsky and two airline executives hid some $600 million of hard currency in Switzerland - almost three times more than any figures previously revealed - according to court papers released today. Investigators had previously accused Berezovsky of hiding and laundering about $200 million. The new figure was given to Swiss authorities by Russian investigators who asked for Swiss help in finding evidence and blocking bank accounts. The Russian investigators claim Berezovsky, Nikolai Glushkov and Alexander Krasneker stole $400 million of profits from the Russian airline Aeroflot. They also allege the three took $200 million in air traffic fees. The money was hidden in two Swiss companies, Andava and Forus Services, the Russian investigators say. It was then laundered through various financial operations, including purchases of property and shares, the investigators say. The investigation is still underway, and Berezovsky has denied the charges. The two Swiss companies and two of their directors had appealed many of the investigators' moves, including the freezing of bank accounts, the seizure of documents and the questioning of one of the directors by Swiss prosecutors in the presence of the Russian investigators. The Swiss federal court said today it has turned down those appeals. Forus has insisted that ``it has not committed any irregularities whatsoever.'' The firm says it arranged some $180 million of short-term credit facilities for Aeroflot in 1997 and 1998 for such needs as buying airplanes. It insists it never possessed or had access to Aeroflot funds. Swiss prosecutors seized large quantities of documents from Forus and Andava during a search of the two companies in July. The search came after Switzerland decided to help Russia investigate the case. Earlier this month, Forus said it filed a suit against Switzerland's former federal prosecutor, Carla del Ponte, for possible industrial espionage and breach of official secrecy. Forus accused del Ponte and her colleagues of passing documents from Forus to Russian prosecutors, with the full knowledge that those documents would be passed on to Aeroflot. That improperly provided the airline with inside information on Forus, the company said. Berezovsky reportedly has considerable holdings in the media, auto manufacturing and the oil industry. He announced this summer that he would run for parliament in December elections. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
