MOSCOW, March 11 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court on Wednesday upheld issuance of the arrest warrant in absentia for businessman Boris Mints in a bond transaction embezzlement case, RAPSI reports from the courtroom.

Last week, the court also found no grounds for reversal of arrest of the businessman’s sons, Alexander and Dmitry, in absentia as part of the same case.

Mints and his sons live in the UK and are involved in the damage recovery proceedings initiated by the Financial Corporation Otkritie and Bank Trust against the businessmen in the High Court of Justice.

The case against the businessman and two his sons was opened in Russia in September 2019. In December, they were put on a wanted list. They are charged with large-scale embezzlement.

Investigators claim that the accused men controlled a disputable deal on the retirement by the Financial Corporation Otkritie of O1 Group Finance 34 billion-ruble bonds two weeks prior to financial restructuring of the bank ordered by the Central Bank and appointment of temporary administration.

“The charges that have purportedly been brought in Russia against Mr Mints and his sons, Alexander and Dmitry are utterly baseless, suspiciously-timed, and they dispute them in full. The charges are plainly intended to intimidate Mr Mints, his family and other witnesses to withdraw their claims made in against Bank Otkritie and form part of an ongoing campaign by their opponents in Russia. Mr Mints will continue to pursue his own counterclaims in this case, and along with Alexander and Dmitry defeat the baseless allegations now made against them both in Russia and the UK,” a spokesperson for Mints told RAPSI earlier.

Boris Mints is a founder of O1 Group company, former co-owner of the bank Otkritie and founder of the Museum of Russian Impressionism. His fortune has been estimated at more than $1 billion.