Agents searched a Moscow bank Friday that is controlled by billionaire tycoon Alexander Lebedev, his aide said.
Former KGB spy Lebedev was not at the National Reserve Bank when several agents from the Federal Security Service arrived for the search, Artyom Artyomov said.
The FSB agents did not appear to be armed and were not wearing masks, Artyomov said. He added that Lebedev was also concerned by checks by about 130 officials from the Central Bank.
"We do not know what the FSB search is about. You will have to ask them yourself," Artyomov said. "The officials from the Central Bank are interested in the personal accounts of Alexander Lebedev, including the accounts he uses to finance his newspapers."
A spokesman for the Federal Security Service said he had no information about the search and declined further comment.
Lebedev has ruffled feathers in the Kremlin in recent years by funding an opposition newspaper and poking fun at Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who he says must open up the political system or face turmoil in coming years.
Lebedev's bank was raided in 2010 by armed police in masks, and he has complained in interviews of being under attack by corrupt officials in the law enforcement agencies.
Lebedev, who served in Russian foreign intelligence under diplomatic cover in London, made his billions trading stocks and bonds after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
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.
