In a message dated 9/21/99 9:38:13 AM Central Daylight Time, AOL News writes: << Subj: Swiss Banks Freeze Russian Funds Date: 9/21/99 9:38:13 AM Central Daylight Time From: AOL News BCC: Ahab42 Swiss Banks Freeze Russian Funds .c The Associated Press Today, the Swiss government announced that Swiss banks have frozen $16.8 million in accounts suspected to be linked to the Russian case. A 1998 law requires banks to take such action and report to the government when they have well-founded suspicions of money laundering. Folco Galli, spokesman for the Federal Office for Police Affairs, told The Associated Press a number of reports have been received in connection with the Bank of New York case. Russia now owes some $16 billion of the $22 billion that the 182-nation IMF has lent it since 1992. The IMF board is expected soon to consider approving a second, $640 million installment under a $4.5 billion loan package for Russia that was previously authorized. Russian President Boris Yeltsin received Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Federal Security Service, today at his country residence for talks on the money-laundeirng investigation. Yeltsin has not commented publicly on the expanding scandal, though the Kremlin has issued statements denying any wrongdoing by the president. A Russian delegation traveled to Washington last week, and both countries agreed to investigate the matter and compare notes, Patrushev told Yeltsin. Viktor Ivanov, deputy head of the Federal Security Service, Russia's main intelligence agency, said Monday that U.S. investigators have presented no evidence that money from the IMF or other international agencies was involved in money laundering. Nor was there any evidence that high-level Russian officials were involved, said Ivanov. He headed a team of Russian investigators who met in Washington last week with FBI Director Louis Freeh and other officials. But Ivanov's statement Monday that U.S. investigators have material suggesting Russian businesses laundered money through the Bank of New York appeared to contradict Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who said earlier Monday that the visit produced no evidence of Russian money being misdirected. Ivanov's remarks also contradicted his own comments last week in Washington. Russian officials have been saying the case has been overblown by Western media and politicians. Bank of New York spokesman Cary Giacalone declined to comment on the latest statements from Ivanov. He repeated the bank's previous position that it has not been accused of any wrongdoing and declined to comment on the ongoing investigation into money-laundering allegations. AP-NY-09-21-99 1037EDT Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press. Announcement: America Online has added Reuters newswires to News Profiles. To add Reuters articles to your daily news delivery, go to KW: <A HREF="aol://5862:146">News Profiles</A> and click on "Modify Your News Profiles." Then click "Edit" and add Reuters from the list on the left. To edit your profile, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:NewsProfiles">NewsProfiles</A>. For all of today's news, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:News">News</A>. >>
Swiss Banks Freeze Russian Funds .c The Associated Press Today, the Swiss government announced that Swiss banks have frozen $16.8 million in accounts suspected to be linked to the Russian case. A 1998 law requires banks to take such action and report to the government when they have well-founded suspicions of money laundering. Folco Galli, spokesman for the Federal Office for Police Affairs, told The Associated Press a number of reports have been received in connection with the Bank of New York case. Russia now owes some $16 billion of the $22 billion that the 182-nation IMF has lent it since 1992. The IMF board is expected soon to consider approving a second, $640 million installment under a $4.5 billion loan package for Russia that was previously authorized. Russian President Boris Yeltsin received Nikolai Patrushev, head of the Federal Security Service, today at his country residence for talks on the money-laundeirng investigation. Yeltsin has not commented publicly on the expanding scandal, though the Kremlin has issued statements denying any wrongdoing by the president. A Russian delegation traveled to Washington last week, and both countries agreed to investigate the matter and compare notes, Patrushev told Yeltsin. Viktor Ivanov, deputy head of the Federal Security Service, Russia's main intelligence agency, said Monday that U.S. investigators have presented no evidence that money from the IMF or other international agencies was involved in money laundering. Nor was there any evidence that high-level Russian officials were involved, said Ivanov. He headed a team of Russian investigators who met in Washington last week with FBI Director Louis Freeh and other officials. But Ivanov's statement Monday that U.S. investigators have material suggesting Russian businesses laundered money through the Bank of New York appeared to contradict Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who said earlier Monday that the visit produced no evidence of Russian money being misdirected. Ivanov's remarks also contradicted his own comments last week in Washington. Russian officials have been saying the case has been overblown by Western media and politicians. Bank of New York spokesman Cary Giacalone declined to comment on the latest statements from Ivanov. He repeated the bank's previous position that it has not been accused of any wrongdoing and declined to comment on the ongoing investigation into money-laundering allegations. AP-NY-09-21-99 1037EDT Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press. Announcement: America Online has added Reuters newswires to News Profiles. To add Reuters articles to your daily news delivery, go to KW: <A HREF="aol://5862:146">News Profiles</A> and click on "Modify Your News Profiles." Then click "Edit" and add Reuters from the list on the left. To edit your profile, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:NewsProfiles">NewsProfiles</A>. For all of today's news, go to keyword <A HREF="aol://1722:News">News</A>.
