Romania accused Lukoil of laundering 1.77 billion euros

The Romanian authorities accuse Lukoil of laundering 1.77 billion euros. This was reported by Bloomberg with reference to the statements of prosecutors made at the last meeting in the Ploseti appeal court.

The press service of Lukoil refused to comment on the American publication.

In early July, the Romanian court arrested the property and accounts of Lukoil totaling about 2 billion euros. Such a decision was made at the prosecutor’s claim as an interim measure as part of the investigation of the case of money laundering and tax evasion.

In early October 2014, searches and seizures of documents were held in this case in 23 LUKOIL offices in Romania, as well as at the oil -drainage plant of the Russian company in Plozheti. A few days later, the plant was stopped as part of investigative measures, which caused the concern of the Russian ambassador in Bucharest Oleg Malginov.

Initially, investigators estimated the damage in the case of 230 million euros. However, last month, investigators said that the damage caused is calculated by billions, and also said that new suspects appeared in the case: the head of the Petrootel Lukoil SA and five more employees.

In Romania, Lukoil owns a network of 300 gas stations.