Russian refinery manager investigated in Romania for tax evasion, money laundry

Russian Andrey Bogdanov, the general manager of Petrotel Lukoil SA Ploiesti, Lukoil’s refinery in Romania, is being investigated for tax evasion and money laundry, and is subject to several free movement limitations, as a preventive measure. This comes after prosecutors initially seized the refinery’s assets, but partially lifted it. Last week, prosecutors from Ploiesti conducted searches at the refinery in the tax evasion and money laundry case, with prejudices amounting to some EUR 230 million. Bogdanov is so far the only individual named in this case, and the authorities have placed him under judicial control – the equivalent of parole, which means he has to be reachable at any moment by the Police, inform the authorities of any accommodation changes, as well as stay within a certain territorial boundary, set by the authorities. Most often this means not being allowed to leave the city. Meanwhile, the refinery stopped its production and commercial activities, but production re-started shortly after. Romanian prosecutors seize EUR 235 mln worth of Lukoil inventories in tax evasion case Russian group Lukoil could sell some of its operations in Eastern Europe editor@romania-insider.com