Slavneft's president comments on situation around company

Mikhail Gutseriyev told journalists today that he is the legal president of Slavneft. He pointed out that there was a relative decision of the Ufa court and he came to work in accordance with this decision.

Responding to RBC's question about Yury Sukhanov, Gutseriyev said that Sukhanov had resigned some 1.5 months ago. According to Gutseriyev, the May 13 decision of a shareholder meeting on his dismissal was illegal. However an annual shareholder meeting that took place on June 29 was legal, he admitted.

He pointed out that if there was a shareholder meeting's legal decision or the Supreme Court's decision on his dismissal he would leave his position. His contract expires in January 2003, he stressed.

As it was earlier reported, Yury Sukhanov, vice president of Slavneft, was elected the president of this oil company and Gutseriyev was dismissed on May 13, 2002. However on May 30, 2002 the Ufa court found these decisions illegal.

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