The Law Society has written a letter of intervention in support of a solicitor accused of asset-stripping and embezzlement by the Russian government.


Tim Osborne, senior partner at Cheltenham and London firm Wiggin Osborne Fullerlove, is accused of involvement in a 2005 transfer-pricing fraud of some of the assets of Russian oil business Yukos (see [2006] Gazette, 7 September, 8).



Mr Osborne, who denies all of the allegations, has been warned not to visit any overseas countries from which he might be extradited to Russia.



He said: 'I am grateful for the support and assistance of the Law Society. The attacks by the General Procuracy are politically motivated and another example of the Russian Federation's desire to ensure that no shareholders receive any value from Yukos. It is difficult to come to terms with these tactics when you are used to living by the rule of law.'



Law Society President Fiona Woolf said: 'To allow Mr Osborne to carry out his legitimate professional duties without impediment, intimidation or harassment, this matter needs to be dealt with immediately.'



Ms Woolf added the Society was deeply concerned that the conduct of the investigation had contravened the Russian Federation's international legal obligations, the European Convention on Human Rights and the articles in Russia's own constitution dealing with access to justice and due process.



She asked the General Procuracy of the Russian Federation to withdraw the allegations.



Jonathan Rayner