The former main shareholder of ?kio Bankas, Vladimir Romanov, is suspected of asset embezzlement on a large scale, writes www.alfa.lt.
In particular, it is suspected that Romanov could have squandered approximately 50 million LTL. If the former banker does not attend scheduled interrogations, the Lithuanian Financial Crime Investigation Service (FCIS) will be forced to ask the court to issue a European arrest warrant.
FCIS, which conducts the pre-trial investigation of Romanov’s case together with the General Prosecutor’s Office, expressed their suspicions on the embezzlement of 50 million LTL on 29 April, 2013.
Vladimir Romanov acknowledged the reception of the official statement and invitation to the first interrogation, and on 2 May, 2013, he, together with his lawyer, was supposed to attend the first interrogation session at the FCIS’ special task service. However, Vladimir Romanov on 30 April left for Moscow and did not come back to attend the interrogation. Romanov’s spokesperson informed that Romanov suffered from a heart attack in Moscow and was in hospital.
Lithuanian law enforcement institutions are now determined to announce international search of Vladimir Romanov, if he does not show up.
It is said that the controversial banker is being protected in Moscow by the people of Ramzan Kadyrov – the president of the Republic of Chechnya. The bodyguard group is said to belong to another contentious businessman of Chechen origin, Ruslan Baisarov, who used to have a certain tie with Lithuania in the past, as he was married (now divorced) to the singer Kristina Orbakait?.