Baturina leaves Russia after police questioning - source
MOSCOW. July 3 (Interfax) - Businesswoman Yelena Baturina, who was in Moscow to testify as a witness in a criminal case over massive embezzlement at the Bank of Moscow, has left Russia unhindered, a source familiar with the situation told Interfax.
"Baturina, who came to Moscow to give testimony in the Bank of Moscow case, has left Russia," the source said.
Baturina was questioned at the Interior Ministry's Investigative Department on June 28.
By law, Baturina had a two-week immunity against criminal prosecution, her lawyers said earlier. "In other words, even if Baturina's status was changed to that of a case suspect, Russian law enforcement authorities would not be able to arrest her," the source said.
Baturina expressed her readiness to testify in the case should it become necessary for investigators again, he said.
The businesswoman was in Russia last week to give evidence in the Bank of Moscow case. The questioning lasted for about four hours. Baturina answered all the questions of interest to investigators and at this stage investigative procedures involving Baturina are over, her lawyer Alexander Asnis said. "She retains witness status," the lawyer said.
Asked whether Baturina will leave Russia, he said: "I do not know. However, she does have such a right and possibility."
In 2009, the accounts owned by Baturina's Inteco company received over 12 billion rubles obtained as a loan for Premier Estate at the Bank of Moscow, according to the Interior Ministry's Investigative Department.
"The loan was obtained on the basis of non-credible information as to the subject and cost of the loan. The subject of the loan was a 58-hectare land plot owned by the Ramenskoye Territorial Directorate, co-owned by three Inteco employees (90% held by Baturina)," an Investigative Department official said earlier
Investigators will also look at whether Inteco and Baturina obtained rights to this plot legally, and in the event of detecting signs of another crime, will launch a separate criminal inquiry, the official said.
