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Finance chief Kudrin meets with jailed deputy Storchak

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Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin has met with his jailed deputy Sergei Storchak, charged with attempting to embezzle $43 million, the minister's press secretary said on Friday.
MOSCOW, December 14 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin has met with his jailed deputy Sergei Storchak, charged with attempting to embezzle $43 million, the minister's press secretary said on Friday.

"The meeting took place yesterday, they discussed routine issues within Finance Ministry jurisdiction," Pavel Kuznetsov said adding the meeting lasted two hours.

A key figure in Russia's Paris Club debt talks, Storchak was arrested in Moscow along with two businessmen on November 15. Investigators said his detention was related to the settlement of Soviet-era debts and that the measure was based on prosecutors' concerns that he could destroy evidence or intimidate witnesses. Storchak has pleaded not guilty.

Storchak has been denied bail despite personal guarantees from Kudrin, who petitioned for his release.

The Finance Ministry earlier said Storchak possessed information, which was crucial for ongoing debt talks with the World Bank, Libya, and other countries.

Storchak's defense lawyer said on Friday he had no knowledge of what was discussed during his client's meeting with Kudrin as lawyers were not present.

"As far as I know, Kudrin met with Storchak yesterday to discuss work issues and decisions, which have come to a halt following Storchak's arrest," Igor Pastukhov said.

The Investigation Committee, Russia's top investigative body with the Prosecutor General's Office, said earlier Storchak's arrest was related to debts to the Sodexim company and that Storchak had been arrested along with Sodexim general director Viktor Zakharov and the president of the Moscow-based Interregional Investment Bank, Vadim Volkov.

They face five to ten years in prison if found guilty.

The committee earlier announced a second probe against Storchak on abuse of office accusations during 2005 talks on Russia's Soviet-era debt to Kuwait, but prosecutors later dropped the investigation.

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