Moscow - Tax police raided some of Russia's largest energy and media businesses yesterday following President Vladimir Putin's promise to end privileges for the business elite.
Police instigated an investigation into the management of the country's biggest oil firm LUKoil after accusing it of falsifying tax refunds.
At the same time, they also searched the offices of the Media-MOST company, headed by Mr Vladimir Gusinsky, a critic of Mr Putin who is already facing fraud charges.