The Russian law enforcement authorities have brought him to criminal liability for the commission of criminal offences provided for in Article 33 paragraph 5, Article 160 paragraph 4 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (aiding and abetting misappropriation of the property of another entrusted to the culprit, committed by an organized group, on an especially large scale) and in Article 174.1 paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (legalization (laundering) of funds or other property derived by a person from the commission of a crime, committed on a large scale).

It has been established that during the period from March 2005 to May 2006 Shimkevich was the actual owner and, concurrently, deputy director of “Rekma V.G.” OOO (LLC). Within this period he, being a member of an organized group, participated in stealing the property of oil-producing company “Tomskneft” VNK (East Oil Company) that was a subsidiary company of “NK (Oil Company) «YUKOS»” OAO (OJSC), and the funds of its subsidiary “Tomskneft-Servis” OOO (LLC). After that Shimkevich participated in legalization (laundering) of the property obtained and the funds.

Since the accused absconded from the law enforcement authority, in September 2008 he was put on the federal wanted list, and in October 2008 he was put on the international wanted list.

In connection with the fact that Shimkevich had been located in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, in April 2009 the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation sent a request pertaining to his extradition, to the competent authorities of the said State.

The officers of the General Department of International Legal Cooperation of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation participated in the Cypriot court hearings and produced evidence concerning the validity of the request pertaining to his extradition.

In April 2012 pursuant to the results of court hearings the Larnaca District Court denied the extradition of the accused.

Pursuant to a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation and on the basis of the materials provided by the Russian Party, the Law Office of the Republic of Cyprus appealed against the said decision.

That is the second time that the person charged with the commission of criminal offences connected with the illicit activity of the former heads of ‘YUKOS”, has been extradited to the Russian Federation.