Accounts of Russian oligarchs blocked

The multimillion bank accounts are blocked in the framework of the money-laundering case at Israel's largest bank, Bank Hapoalim.

Itar-Tass reports that Luxembourg's justice has arrested the bank accounts of Russian oligarchs in the Luxembourg branch of the Bank Hapoalim, the Sella Bank.

The arrest of the bank accounts was followed by a search at the Sella bank headquarters. In the near future, Luxembourg will inform Israel at its request about the transactions and concrete persons involved in illegal deals.

The only accused whose name has been disclosed so far is Arkadiy Gaydamak. Earlier this month the Israeli and European press wrote about the alleged involvement of Mr. Gaydamak as well as the former media tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky in money laundering through one of the Bank Hapoalim's branch.

Mr. Gaydamak, emigrated from USSR to France in 1980s, was once suspected of illegal arms supply to Angola via France. Though these suspicions were lifted later, he is still prosecuted in France for tax evasion.

Sources: Itar-TASS, RIA Novosti