Mosocw, 31 October 2002 (RFE/RL) -- A Moscow court has issued an arrest warrant for tycoon Boris Berezovskii and two of his associates in connection with the theft of cars from Russian carmaker AvtoVAZ. Interfax news agency says the court issued the warrants for Berezovskii, Badri Patarkatsishvili and Yurii Dubov at the request of Russia's Prosecutor-General's Office yesterday. Berezovskii and his two associates are all living outside of Russia.
Deputy Prosecutor-General Vladimir Kolesnikov has said that international extradition requests will be filed against the three.
Andrei Borovkov, a lawyer acting on behalf of Berezovskii and his associates, was quoted as telling Interfax that he would appeal the Moscow court's decision.
Russian prosecutors opened a criminal case against Berezovskii and Patarkatsishvili last month for allegedly stealing cars worth $13 million from AvtoVAZ in 1994-95.
Berezovskii has said the various charges against him are retaliation for his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Deputy Prosecutor-General Vladimir Kolesnikov has said that international extradition requests will be filed against the three.
Andrei Borovkov, a lawyer acting on behalf of Berezovskii and his associates, was quoted as telling Interfax that he would appeal the Moscow court's decision.
Russian prosecutors opened a criminal case against Berezovskii and Patarkatsishvili last month for allegedly stealing cars worth $13 million from AvtoVAZ in 1994-95.
Berezovskii has said the various charges against him are retaliation for his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.