MOSCOW, January 23 – RAPSI. Russia’s richest woman Yelena Baturina, who is a witness in the Bank of Moscow case, said she is eager to testify and is ready to come to Russia as soon as she gets an official invitation to take part in the interrogation.

The investigative department opened a criminal case against former Bank of Moscow President Andrey Borodin and his deputy Dmitry Akulinin in late 2010. Borodin and Akulinin were charged with embezzling 12.5 billion rubles ($398.5 million) from the Moscow budget through a loan to the Premier Estate company. Prior to granting the loan to Premier Estate, the bank issued new shares worth 15 billion rubles ($478.2). The stake was purchased by the Moscow government, the bank's majority shareholder.

The Premier Estate used the funds to purchase 58 hectare land plot on the west of Moscow. Investigators say the bank's personnel was well aware of the false information the borrower submitted about the pledge to secure the loan.

“Nobody sent me an invitation executed under lawful rules. As soon as I get it, I will come at once,” said Yelena Baturina, wife of former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov, in an interview to the REN TV channel.

Yuri Luzhkov, who held the Moscow mayor office for 18 years, was dismissed in September 2010 via the presidential decree over the loss of credibility.