By RIA Novosti,
Moscow : The Russian government will sue Swiss trader Noga for 1 million euros ($1.6 million) following the seizure of Russian assets in France, the Finance Ministry said on Wednesday.
The French accounts of Russian organizations including Russia’s Central Bank and news agency RIA Novosti were frozen in January over a 49-million euro ($75 million) claim filed by Noga for outstanding debts under barter oil deals struck with Russia’s government in the early 1990s.
The Russian government filed a compensation claim with a French court on Tuesday, saying the actions by Noga damaged Russia’s reputation and economic interests.
Asked whether it was possible to obtain the compensation from the bankrupt company Noga, Russian Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin answered positively, adding that the claim involved French justice bodies as well.