President Putin updates Hoerst Koehler on his position on Yukos affair

The Russian oil major YUKOS affair has been discussed at a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hoerst Koehler, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said Andrei Illarionov, an aide to the Russian president. He said President Putin had offered his position on the matter.

The president said the Russian Prosecutor General's Office must prove charges against the YUKOS executives in an open and adversary court process, according to Mr Illarionov.

He recalled that some of the YUKOS top managers had been charged with fraud and tax evasion, and the Prosecutor General's Office was absolutely certain that they were guilty.

The president assured the IMF director that that was not the question of de-privatisation, according to the presidential aide.

President Putin denied allegations that Russia applies the law in a picky way.