The license of the Moscow branch of the U.K.-based auditor would have expired in May.
PwC is facing 243 million rubles ($9.3 million) of back taxes for 2002 in Russia. The company has also been ordered to pay the state $480,000 after the Moscow Arbitration Court annulled 2002-2004 contract between Yukos and PwC, which has been accused of covering up the oil company's tax schemes and drawing up two different audit reports over three years. PwC said it would appeal and added the ruling misinterpreted an auditor's role and functions.
PwC clients in Russia include the Central Bank and Russia's electricity monopoly Unified Energy System. The company won a tender to audit Russian state-controlled energy giant Gazprom [RTS: GAZP] earlier this month. PwC has been auditing Gazprom since 1995. The AvtoVAZ auto-maker has refused to prolong its contract with PwC.
