MOSCOW, 3 Dec — RIA Novosti. the Lawsuit by the court in the Hague to recover in favor of the former shareholders of Yukos 57 billion dollars could take several years. said in an interview with RIA Novosti Deputy head of the Ministry of justice, the Ombudsman of Russia to the ECHR Michael Halperin.
Previously, the justice Ministry said that Russia appealed the decision of the Hague court about collecting in favor of the former shareholders of Yukos $ 57 billion.
“Russia in this case has a solid position, backed up by plenty of evidence. As for the future solution will refrain from any predictions. We have a lot of work, which may last for several years”, — said the Deputy Minister.
the Hague court of Appeal in February ordered Russia to pay $ 50 billion to former Yukos shareholders. The Russian Ministry of justice declared that the cassation court to challenge the verdict in the Supreme court of the Netherlands.
Initially, the arbitration has decided to collect from Russia $ 50 billion, in April 2016, this decision was overturned by the District court of the Hague. As explained by RIA Novosti in the Ministry, the amount increased to $ 57 billion in connection with the accrued interest.
the Ministry of justice indicated that the appeal court ignored numerous facts of violation by the plaintiffs of the norms of anti-corruption and AML / CFT regulation. According to authorities, ex-shareholders Yukos gained control of company assets with the help of proven collusion, fictitious tenders and bribery of officials responsible for its privatization. Moreover, offshore “company dummy” controlled by Russian citizens, is not actually paid Yukos shares and, accordingly, has not made any contribution to the Russian economy.
in the management of Yukos former owner systematically evaded paying taxes, illegal withdrawal of assets abroad, laundered money and committed other illegal actions. Therefore, the plaintiffs, having “dirty hands” cannot be recognized as bona fide investors in terms of the energy Charter Treaty to which they refer, says the Ministry of justice. In addition, the evidence of Russian oligarchs bribe the main witness in the case, the Ministry explained.
the Ministry of justice also explained that in the arbitration proceedings, company claims introduced arbitrators misleading with respect to the ultimate beneficiaries of the three shell companies have filed lawsuits against Russia. In fact, the plaintiffs were in fact Russian oligarchs beneficiary of Yukos. The court was presented with irrefutable evidence of the connection of these Russians with the plaintiffs. Therefore, the lawsuit faces can not be recognized as foreign investors, confident in the justice Ministry.
Also clarifies that the court ignored no��due to the explicit agreement of Russia to arbitration on the claim the former shareholders of Yukos. The Ministry said that the decision of the court of Appeal of the Hague does not match the position of the European court of human rights.
the Last in its decisions has repeatedly rejected accusations of Russia in “political motivation” and “repressive” tax measures taken against Yukos. The ECHR confirmed that the Russian tax authorities acted lawfully when additional taxes in respect of the company. The Hague court of appeal did not consider proved during called trials of mass Exodus of Yukos from taxes and almost completely ignored the numerous evidence of the use by Yukos of the “one-day firms” in the regions with the preferential taxation, confirmed by the specified decision, the ECtHR noted the Ministry of justice.
