Khodorkovsky to ask Yukos shareholders to sack Gerashchenko

Former CEO of the Russian oil giant, Yukos, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, now under investigation for fraud, is going to request that the general session of the Yukos board consider dismissal of Chairman of the Board Viktor Gerashchenko, Anton Drel, Khodorkovsky's lawyer, said Wednesday.

[Viktor Gerashchenko is former chief of the Russian Central Bank and former State Duma deputy from the Rodina (Motherland) faction, who is considered to be one of the most competent financiers in Russia.]

"On July 5, Mr. Khodorkovsky addressed Mr. Gerashchenko through his lawyers with a request of his dismissal, but now that this decision has not been adopted for certain considerations, he will ask to discuss this issue at the general session of shareholders," said the lawyer.

According to Anton Drel, the period since the Yukos board decided to elect Viktor Gerashchenko its chairman (on June 24) has shown that the hopes of all Yukos shareholders for a dialogue with the government with the help of the former Central Bank chief have been frustrated. "Moreover, informed sources say that Mr. Gerashchenko's further presence in the board will even limit the opportunity of a dialogue, while there are no other ideas of settling the situation but through talks with the government," said the lawyer.