Sergei Guriev, former head of Moscow's New Economic School, is returning to Russia for the first time in three and a half years. Guriev, who currently serves as chief economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, will visit Russia to take part in a series of conferences and events, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.
"I will be speaking at the Vedomosti [newspaper] conference, also at the New Economic School and the Skolkovo School," Guriev said. "I'm also scheduled to speak at a conference of the Eurasian Bank for Development," he added.
Guriev fled Russia in 2013, fearing that he may face criminal charges in the so-called "Yukos experts" case. He had participated in the preparation of a report on the second set of criminal charges against oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev, which cast doubt on the legality of their sentences. In the months leading up to his departure from Russia, Guriev was questioned several times by the Investigative Committee and his house was searched by law enforcement officials.
