Moscow, 5 February 1997 (RFE/RL) - The Russian State Duma today passed a resolution calling on President Boris Yeltsin to look into allegations that his chief of staff, Anatoly Chubais, violated the law by underpaying taxes.
Deputies passed the resolution by a vote of 235 to 19. The appeal calls on Yeltsin to examine published information that Chubais did not pay all his taxes. The Duma forwarded the information on Chubais to the General Prosecutor for verification.
Chubais has denied allegations that he is a tax dodger. He has said he paid about $95,000 in taxes on the roughly $300,000 he earned in 1996. He has also accused Duma deputies of circulating stolen bank records.
Opposition leaders have accused Chubais of exercising undue influence during Yeltsin's extended absence becuase of health problems.