MOSCOW, November 17 (RAPSI) – President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Shokhin told journalists on Monday that he had been summoned for questioning in Bashneft case.

A criminal case linked to deals with shares of mid-sized oil producer Bashneft was opened in April.

Chairman of AFK Sistema Vladimir Yevtushenkov, being one of Russia’s richest people, was implicated in the case. He was charged with money laundering and placed under house arrest until March 16.

Shokhin in October pledged support to Yevtushenkov. He asked on behalf of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs to release Yevtushenkov on bail.

Shokhin was to be questioned on November 7, but he notified in writing investigators about his tough working schedule as he was busy getting ready for the G20 summit.

Shokhin said that his status as a witness in the case seriously undermined his position as Yevtushenkov’s guarantor, even though there is no conflict of interest in terms of procedure. 

AFK Sistema said earlier that the charges brought against Yevtushenkov were unfounded. The company directly owned almost 72 percent of voting shares of Bashneft, which produces about 350,000 barrels of oil a day, and an overall stake of 86.7 percent, including 12.6 percent via Sistema-Invest.