LONDON — Yevroset founder Yevgeny Chichvarkin, who fled to Britain after losing his assets, staged a protest in London on Wednesday to draw attention to the risks of investing in Russia.
Chichvarkin, joined by about 10 supporters, protested outside a state-sponsored Russian investment forum in a T-shirt showing his face above the slogan "Russia Calling?" — a play on the forum's slogan.
Investors "think that if they agree on something with some of the corrupt officials, their business is secure," he said. "Investors who bought Yukos shares also thought that, until they earned 'zero.'"
He was referring to the case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former owner of the Yukos oil company, who has been in jail since 2003 on murky charges of tax evasion and fraud.
Chichvarkin fled to Britain in 2008 saying he could be killed if jailed in Russia, where he faced charges of extortion and kidnapping. He said the charges, dropped in January, were politically motivated.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.