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Case against fugitive billionaire dropped

 

Shaun Walker
Wednesday 26 January 2011 01:00 GMT
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Russian investigators have dropped charges against a former billionaire mobile phone magnate who has spent the past two years hiding in London.

Yevgeny Chichvarkin, who built up the Yevroset retail chain from scratch and was one of Russia’s best known young businessmen, was wanted by the Russian authorities on charges of extortion and kidnapping.

Mr Chichvarkin told The Independent he was “surprised” by this week’s decision, but said it was too early to talk about a return to Russia.

Mr Chichvarkin, 36, fled Moscow in late 2008 after receiving information he was about to be arrested. Russian authorities put him on the Interpol international wanted list soon after, accusing him and nine associates of kidnapping a business partner who allegedly stole a consignment of mobile phones.

He denied the charges and said they were motivated by corrupt officials who were angered that he had not paid them bribes. After two years hiding in London, where British courts have so far rejected Russia’s extradition requests, Russia’s Supreme Court approved an acquittal of the nine associates this week, and charges against them and Mr Chichvarkin were dropped.

“To be honest I was surprised,” he said yesterday. “In recent years the government has shown that if it wants to crush someone, it will crush them all the way.”

Mr Chichvarkin says he misses Russia and wants to return, but feels that it is still too dangerous for now.

“This ruling is a sign that some people want to end the persecution of me, but there are also other signs that another criminal case might be in the works,” said the tycoon, citing Russian media reports about the reopening of an old case over contraband goods. He also said he was obliged by the British courts to remain in the country, as his bail conditions stipulate he cannot leave the UK while his asylum request is pending.

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