Questions in Knesset on citizenship for Yukos executive Nevzlin

Leonid Nevzlin fled to Israel after the arrest of Yukos controlling shareholder Mikhail Khodorkovsky

4 November 03 17:40, Sharon Kedmi

Knesset Immigration, Absorption and the Diaspora Committee chairperson MK Colette Avital (Labor-Meimad) raised a question today in Knesset to Minister of Internal Affairs Avraham Poraz and Minister of Immigrant Absorption Tzipi Livni, after senior Yukos (RTS:YUKO) executive Leonid Nevzlin was granted Israeli citizenship.

"Globes" revealed that Nevzlin fled to Israel after the arrest of Yukos controlling shareholder Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who apparently transferred control of Yukos to Nevzlin and resigned as Yukos CEO last night.

Avital claimed that Nevzlin was granted citizenship in an expedited and extraordinary procedure, and she asked whether there was any connection to "Nevzlin's friendship with Israeli government officials." She also asked, "Whether the state plans to grant asylum to tycoons suspected of criminal acts?"

Informed sources confirmed to "Globes" today that several top Yukos executives were residing in a hotel in central Israel. The sources said it was possible that they were registered under assumed names in order to cover their tracks, but they were unquestionably in Israel. "They could easily hold a board meeting here," said the sources.

Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on November 4, 2003