Dutch lawyer should Putin's save billions

A Dutch lawyer who advocated the cause of the Russian State? It is salient, MH17, after the annexation of the Crimea and the icy wind that since then all traffic between west and East cools. But Albert Jan van den Berg of Honatiau & Van Rensburg Lawyers talk itself Tuesday the blisters on the tongue to ensure that Putin and co. No $ 50 billion have to pay to the shareholders of the former oil company Yukos.

Or that no wring? ,, I think many lawyers would find it an honor if they were requested by the Russian Federation to represent its interests in such a case, "says Van den Berg. In addition,:,, this case is not about the issues that you mention. "

Russian matter That is undeniably a fact. Although the case in a Dutch court, with Dutch, Dutch lawyers and judges with Dutch as the language of instruction, it is a purely Russian matter.

Yukos Oil was under 12 years ago one of the largest oil companies in the world. Big man behind Yukos is Mikhail Khodorkovsky. At one time the richest man in Russia stores its battle in the chaos under Boris Yeltsin, in the early 1990s. State properties go for fooitjes over the counter, and Yukos is born.

Khodorkovsky acquired respect in the West with its transparent way of doing business. Also he develops to advocate of democracy and opponent of Putin, who has all the reins firmly in control.

Reckoning In 2004 gets Yukos a tax assessment of $ 27 billion. Approximately at the same time, Khodorkovsky imprisoned for tax evasion in the past, and Russia freezes the assets of Yukos. The oil giant is to sell his most valuable oil fields and clamp. Through an auction that in the hands of State-owned enterprises, far below the market price.

The Russian opposition sees it as one large, political settlement with Khodorkovsky, directed by Putin himself. The former shareholders fight the expropriation legally to get in 2014 and after years litigating right.

The Permanent Court of arbitration in the Hague comes with a hard judgment. ,, The whole course of events around the bankruptcy of Yukos was not aimed at collecting tax money, but formed the last company in the destruction of the company by the Russian Federation and the expropriation of property for the benefit of the Russian Government and the State-owned Rosneft and Gazprom. ''

Compensation the Court of arbitration, which judges international trade and investment disputes, required Russia to around 50 billion in damages to shareholders. Khodorkovsky is not one more at: he does during his 10-year stay at the cell away from its stake in Yukos. Since december 2013 he is free again. From Switzerland, his current residence, he will follow with interest the case.

Source: AD.nl/By: Sander Vermeulen Photo read the whole article on http://www.ad.nl