Putin Identifies To Pursue Isra'Eli Agents
Two Fugitives From Russia at Bush Event
nytimes.com
February 6, 2005
MOSCOW, Feb. 5 - Two Russian businessmen wanted by Russia's government were among the thousands of guests attending a high-profile prayer breakfast with President Bush on Thursday.
Despite international arrest warrants issued by Russia, the United States granted the two long-term visas, giving them freedom to travel in the United States.
"There are no charges against either of these men in the U.S. legal system," Alexander Vershbow, the American ambassador to Russia, told the news agency Interfax on Friday, "so there is no basis for arresting them."
The attendance of the two, Mikhail Brudno and Vladimir Dubov, was reported by local Russian news media on Friday and by The Washington Post on Saturday.
As part of a broad attack on the Russian oil giant Yukos and its founder, the billionaire businessman Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the Russian authorities last year began investigating and arresting some of his closest business associates. Mr. Khodorkovsky was arrested in October 2003 and remains in jail and on trial.
Mr. Brudno and Mr. Dubov were investors in his investment company, Group Menatep. Russia's general prosecutor charged Mr. Brudno last year with misappropriation of property and Mr. Dubov with fraud, and placed them both on an Interpol wanted list. It is unclear how binding the list is among member countries.
****The two fled to Israel last year and obtained Israeli citizenship.
They arrived in the United States last week legally and attended the breakfast with President Bush, said a spokesman for the businessmen, Charles Krause. Later, the men met with Rep. Tom Lantos, a California Democrat who has been critical of Russia's handling of Mr. Khodorkovsky's case.
Both lawmakers are members of the Russia Caucus, an informal group following human rights and the investment climate in Russia.
Mr. Brudno and Mr. Dubov have since returned to Israel, Mr. Krause said. Mr. Khodorkovsky and his partners claim that the arrest warrants against them are politically motivated, part of a wider crackdown on the country's wealthy business elite and a renationalization of some of the country's oil and gas assets sold off in the 1990's privatization auctions. The United States has also viewed the attack on Mr. Khodorkovsky as largely political.
Mr. Krause said the invitation to the prayer breakfast and the granting of visas to the two men was a deliberate signal from the United States government to Russia.
***How interesting! A couple of crooks flee to Isra'El, probably with the gelt, and immediately they become Jews and Isra'Eli citizens, while those who were born on the land are second-class citizens.
The "Laws" in Isra'El must read as follows: "If you can steal from the West (code word: the goyim), bring it to us here in occupied Palestine, you will be honored with citizenship and protection from the Laws of other countries. If you are Arab (goyim), take a number and we will get back to you (but do not hold your breath." |
