Ex-Russia Media Mogul Arrested in Greece

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, August 25, 2003

Ex-Russia Media Mogul Arrested in Greece

A former Russian media mogul who clashed with the Kremlin and fled under fraud accusations three years ago was in Greek custody after being arrested at the Athens airport.

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A former Russian media mogul who clashed with the Kremlin and fled under fraud accusations three years ago was in Greek custody after being arrested at the Athens airport.

Vladimir Gusinsky, whose former empire included the independent NTV television station, was detained Thursday after arriving from Tel Aviv, Israel, where he has lived since April 2001. His name appeared on an Interpol wanted list for fraud in excess of $250 million, airport authorities said Saturday.

Gusinsky, who became one of Russia's best-known oligarchs after the fall of communism, is scheduled to appear before a Greek prosecutor Monday.

Russia initially sought Gusinsky on charges of misrepresenting the assets of his company Media-Most to obtain a $262 million loan from the government-controlled gas giant Gazprom. It later added allegations of money laundering.

In 2001, Gazprom took over Gusinsky's media holdings led by NTV formerly Russia's main nationwide, independent network. The move was widely criticized as a blow to media freedom in Russia and considered possible retaliation for NTV's relentless coverage of the war in Chechnya and unflattering reports on President Vladimir Putin. The potential political clout of wealthy Russians such as Gusinsky also has rattled Russian leaders.

Gusinsky, who holds Russian and Israeli passports, claims the charges against him are politically motivated.

He was arrested in December 2000 at his home in Spain, but a Spanish court refused to extradite him, saying the grounds for the case wouldn't amount to a crime in Spain.

Gusinsky then moved to Israel.

Source: Agencies

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