MOSCOW (AP) - Moscow investigators launched a probe into the business practices of two senior executives at one of Russia's top oil companies, Interfax news agency reported Wednesday.
The Moscow Interior Department opened a criminal case against Yuri Sukhanov and Dmitri Perevalov, two vice presidents at Slavneft oil company, on charges of abuse of power by an executive in a commercial institution, the news agency said.
The probe discovered "great material damage ... done to the state as the main shareholder of the company," Interfax quoted the Interior Department as saying.
No one was available to comment Wednesday night.
At Slavneft, Sukhanov was responsible for oil product sales, and Perevalov for oil purchases and exports.
The Russian government said earlier this year that it plans to sell a 19.68 percent stake in Slavneft as part of a series of privatization projects. The Russian Property Ministry owns 55.27 percent of Slavneft, the Belarusian Property Ministry owns 10.8 percent, the Russian Federal Property Fund owns 19.68 percent and companies affiliated with the Tyumen Oil company own 12.58 percent, Interfax reported.
Several companies with links to the state have come under close scrutiny from Russian prosecutors in recent months. President Vladimir Putin has pledged to stem the corruption that has robbed the country of revenues and discouraged investors. But some critics contend that Putin has used prosecutors to pursue his political foes.