Russia takes legal steps in response to assets' arrest as part of Yukos case - Peskov
MOSCOW. Dec 22 (Interfax) - Moscow is taking measures in response to the freezing of payments by a number of French companies on the initiative of former Yukos shareholders, Russian President's press Secretary Dmitry Peskov has said.
"Naturally, legal steps aimed at protecting Russia's interests are being taken," he told reporters on Tuesday.
He also declined to comment on the media reports that former Yukos shareholders had managed to secure the arrest of Russian assets abroad, saying he had no information.
"At any rate, this is about legal procedures. This is also about legal counter-measures being taken by the Russian side, so in this particular instance I would refrain from any comment because I do not have sufficient information," the president's press secretary said.
The RBK daily said earlier that the former Yukos shareholders had been able to secure a freeze on payments by French companies Arianespace and Eutelsat to their Russian counteragents.
"The former Yukos shareholders, who have been trying to make Russia pay the $50 billion compensation awarded by The Hague tribunal, managed to cause it more trouble in France. After the arrests of the diplomatic buildings in Paris, they managed to secure the arrest of payments by the launch services provider Arianespace and the satellite operator Eutelsat to their Russian counteragents. In addition, the Yukos shareholders are seeking the arrest of Russian 'property' with Air France," the newspaper said.