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On 11/1/2003 at 1:57 PM Lynn/Judy Osburn <openi420@starband.net> wrote:

Organization: Forfeiture Endangers American Rights  http://www.fear.org/
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A case of the pot calling the kettle black:

US Department of State official criticizes Russia for freezing company
assets following the arrest and jailing of Yukos' chief executive, who is
charged with fraud, tax evasion and five other offenses. US State
Department
spokesman hypocritically worries about Russian property rights, stating:
"We've noted that it sparked concerns among domestic and international
investors about respect for ownership rights in Russia."   At least the
Russians in this case waited to seize the company's assets until after an
arrest for related criminal conduct, and then released a portion found
unrelated to the alleged criminal conduct--unlike the majority of assets
seized in the US that are forfeited from owners who are never charged with
a
crime.  --Judy O.

 http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2003-11/01/content_1154897.htm

Moscow denounces US statement on freezing Yukos shares

??MOSCOW, Nov. 1 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior Russian official said Saturday
that
an earlier US statement on the freezing of Yukos shares is a manifestation
of the double-standard policy.
??
        "Moscow views such statements made by the US Department of State as
at least impolite and disrespectful," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman
Alexander Yakovenko told Rossia television on Saturday evening.

??Russian prosecutors froze part of Yukos shares on Thursday following the
arrest and jailing of Yukos' chief executive Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is
charged with fraud, tax evasion and five other offenses.

??US Department of State spokesman Richard Boucher said Friday that
freezing
the shares aroused fluctuation in Russia's financial markets and raised
serious questions about the rule of law in the country.

??"We've noted that it sparked concerns among domestic and international
investors about respect for ownership rights in Russia," said Boucher,
calling the Russian authorities to dispel concerns that the Yukos case is
politically motivated.

??Boucher's allegation "is undoubtedly a follow-up to the notorious double
standard policy which is being widely used by the current US
administration," said Yakovenko.

??The Russian official recalled that Washington also applied double
standards in the Chechen issue, when it commented about the
disproportionate
use of force in the breakaway republic.

??Russian prosecutors on Friday night freed a small proportion ofthe frozen
stake, which had been confirmed to have no relation with the criminal case.
Enditem


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