Andrei Karaulov, a producer and anchor of the popular political program "A Moment of Truth," told a press conference that he had carried out his own investigation to find out the real motives of Yakubovsky's arrest.
"The detention is the continuation of the war declared by Korzhakov against Luzhkov," Karaulov said, referring to Alexander Korzhakov, head of the presidential bodyguard, and Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov.
Karaulov said Yakubovsky worked as a legal consultant to MOST-Bank and Stolichny Bank, both of which had close ties with Luzhkov.
He said Korzhakov and his allies were concerned about the President Boris Yeltsin's health and were casting around for possible successors. "And Luzhkov is not their man," he said, adding that Korzhakov's next target would be the mayor's office or Luzhkov himself.
"The war declared by Korzhakov against Luzhkov started on the day of attack of the MOST-Bank building," Karaulov said, in a reference to an incident Dec. 2 when a group of armed men, later identified as members of Korzhakov's guard, surrounded a building in central Moscow and beat a number of MOST-Bank employees.
Spokesmen for the presidential bodyguard and the Interior Ministry refused to comment on the allegations.
Yakubovsky was appointed in 1993 by Yeltsin to investigate corruption in the upper echelons of power. As a result, Viktor Barannikov, a security minister, was dismissed. Yakubovsky then fled the country, returning months later to start a private practice.
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.