Charges Dropped Against Russian Media Mogul

M O S C O W, July 27 -- The criminal case against a Russian media mogul critical of Kremlin policies has been closed for lack of evidence, Russian media reported today.

Vladimir Gusinsky was jailed for four days in June on charges ofcheating the government of $10 million in a privatization deal.Authorities had seized documents from his company’s offices severaltimes, and repeatedly called him in for questioning after hisrelease.

Rage Over Case

The case provoked international outrage and stoked fears thatthe government of President Vladimir Putin was intent on muzzlingthe media. Gusinsky’s Media-Most holding company includes the NTVtelevision station, Echo of Moscow radio, and several criticalnewspapers.

Others saw the case as a sign of a Kremlin offensive againstRussia’s top businessmen, who came to be known as “oligarchs”under Boris Yeltsin for their close ties to the government. Putinhas said he would even the playing field for businessmen, givingnone the favors they previously enjoyed.

Russian prosecutors have sought to reverse the 1997privatization of giant metals concern Norilsk Nickel, saying it wassold at an unfairly low price to a well-connected businessman.Prosecutors have also launched criminal proceedings againstRussia’s largest car maker, Avtovaz, and oil giant Lukoil, whichare accused of tax evasion.

The ITAR-Tass news agency quoted Gusinsky’s lawyer PavelAstakhov as saying that Gusinsky found out that the case had beenclosed on Wednesday night. He immediately flew to Spain, where hisfamily is staying.

‘Lack of Evidence’

The prosecutor’s office concluded that there was a “lack ofevidence that a crime had been committed,” ITAR-Tass said. NTVreported that the prosecutor had reversed the order to put a freezeon Gusinsky’s personal belongings.

The case against Gusinsky was closed just ahead of a meetingplanned Friday between Putin and many of Russia’s biggestbusinessmen to discuss the rising tensions.