Prominent Economist Leaves Russia After Questioning

Sergei Guriyev at a 2012 conference

Prominent Russian economist Sergei Guriyev has left the country after being questioned by state investigators.

News of Guriyev's departure comes amid a continuing clampdown on President Vladimir Putin's critics.

Guriyev, who is said to be in France, has acted as an adviser to the government and served on the boards of several state companies.

He has been questioned as a witness in an investigation into the defunct Yukos oil company, whose founder, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, remains in prison since being jailed in 2003 for fraud.

Guriyev has previously expressed critical opinions about the case.

He also has been outspoken in his support for opposition leader Aleksei Navalny, who is currently on trial for embezzlement.

He has confirmed he is not seeking reelection to the board of state-owned Sberbank.

But he declined comment on reports he has resigned as rector of Moscow's New Economic School.

Based on reporting by Reuters, ft.com, and Interfax