MOSCOW, October 28 - RAPSI. The Investigative Committee stated that if former Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov and his wife Yelena Baturina fail to appear for interrogation, they may incur liability under the Criminal Procedure Code.

Luzhkov was to arrive to the Investigative Committee by 10:00 a.m. on October 28 to testify as a witness in the case over embezzlement of the Bank of Moscow funds, the committee reported.

"The investigator received a formal letter from Luzhkov indicating that he could not participate in the investigation on October 28 due to his stay abroad. In view of this the interrogation was postponed. In the event of his failure to appear he may be punished under the current criminal procedure laws", the committee reports.

According to the committee Baturina was also summoned for interrogation on several occasions (February 25, March 4 and April 8), but Inteco replied that she was staying abroad.

If Baturina's absence continues investigators may take measures to make her appear, including through Interpol.