Russian prosecutors achieve seizure of Borodin's accounts in Lichtenstein, Berezovsky's assets in Ukraine
MOSCOW. April 17 (Interfax) - The Lichtenstein authorities granted the request made by the Russian Prosecutor General's Office and seized the accounts of former Bank of Moscow CEO Andrei Borodin, and the Ukrainian authorities have seized shares and real estate belonging to late Boris Berezovsky at the Russian prosecutors' request, Russian Prosecutor General Yury Chaika said.
His report submitted to the Federation Council states that the Russian Prosecutor General's Office has made appropriate requests to some foreign countries within the framework of cooperation and legal assistance "to get back assets received as a result of corruption crimes."
"Some of them have already been fulfilled. For example, the judicial bodies of Lichtenstein have frozen over $10 million deposited by Borodin into an insurance company's account. The relevant Ukrainian authorities have seized the shares and real estate of some companies and enterprises that belonged to Boris Berezovsky," the report says.
According to the information possessed by the Prosecutor General's Office, "61 requests for legal assistance on corruption cases investigated by Russian law enforcement agencies, including for the purpose of returning assets received as a result of corruption crimes, was filed with the relevant authorities of foreign countries" in 2012.
In addition, 31 requests for the extradition of people for prosecution for corruption were filed with foreign countries. "Seven requests filed by Russia were granted, three were declined, and 21 are currently being considered," Chaika said.
Borodin was arrested in absentia by the Moscow Tverskoi Court and was charged with abuse of powers (the charge was later reclassified to fraud) in May 2011. The banker, who moved to the UK, is currently on the international wanted persons list. In early March 2013, it became known that Borodin had been granted political asylum in the UK.
Berezovsky immigrated to the UK in 2000 and had lived in London. In Russia, the businessman was charged with numerous crimes and was sentenced to a prison term in absentia. ON March 23, reports came of his death.