Yukos’ bank accounts arrested
Yukos is facing a halt to production and a potential default on $2.6 billion in international loans after court marshals Thursday arrested its Russian bank accounts as collateral for payment of a $3.4 billion tax bill for 2000, the company said.
News of the arrest came just hours after news agencies reported the Federal Tax Service had slapped a second $3.4 billion back tax claim — this time for 2001 — on the beleaguered company.
If enforced, the bill could force a fire sale of the company’s core production assets leading to a breakup of the nation’s biggest oil exporter, analysts said.