Former Yukos executive dies of AIDS

Vasily Aleksanyan, the former executive vice president of oil company Yukos, died in Moscow on October 3 at age 39. Aleksanyan died of AIDS-caused complications, RIA Novosti reports citing his relatives.

Aleksanyan was diagnosed with HIV a few months after his arrest in 2006. He was charged with money-laundering, tax evasion and embezzlement.  Afterwards,  he contracted tuberculosis and went nearly blind. According to the prosecution, he embezzled property and shares from Tomskneft and VNK oil companies, RIA Novosti reports.

Aleksanyan was released from custody in December 2008 after posting bail of 50 million rubles ($1.6mn at current rates). The bail was returned after the court announced its decision to dismiss the case. Charges against him were dropped in 2010.

Vasily Aleksanyan graduated from the Moscow State University and the Law School of Harvard University as a Master of Laws. In 1992-1994 he worked for the USA law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. In 1995-1996 he was the head of the legal department for the British Investment firm SUN Group. Since 1996 he worked as the head of the legal department for Yukos.