Carla del Ponte: Swiss Prosecutor General soon to move to head the UN War Crimes Tribunal on Yugoslavia. Started an investigation into Russian-related corruption in Switzerland.

Yuri Skuratov: Russian Prosecutor General who co-operated with del Ponte. As his investigations continued Russian TV showed a video of a man resembling Skuratov in bed with two prostitutes. Skuratov was fired.

Yevgeny Primakov: Prime minister of Russia who backed Skuratov's investigation. He too was fired by President Yeltsin.

Behxet Pacolli: Kosovar-Albanian businessman based in Lugano, Switzerland. Alleged to have bribed Kremlin officials and provided credit cards for leading politicians and others. He has won major state building contracts in Russia. Has denied all allegations.

Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin: Alleged to have received $1 million and a credit card from Pacolli.

The Kremlin issued a statement saying that neither Mr Yeltsin nor any member of his family held any foreign bank accounts.

Tatyana Dyachenko: Younger daughter of President Yeltsin. Alleged to have received a credit card from Pacolli.

Yelena Okulova: Elder daughter of President Yeltsin. Alleged to have received a credit card from Pacolli.

Pavel Borodin: Administrator of the Kremlin. Alleged to have received bribes from Pacolli. Denies the allegations.

Boris Berezovsky: Billionaire media magnate, major Aeroflot shareholder and Yeltsin supporter. His Aeroflot finances are being investigated in Switzerland.

Alexander Korzhakov: Former KGB general and head of Yeltsin's corps of bodyguards. Claims Berezovsky asked him to kill Yuri Luzhkov, the Mayor of Moscow.

Georgy Chuglazov: Investigator from the Russian prosecutor's office. Claims that almost all the allegations are true and on his files. Was taken off the case and had his phone cut off.