Russian authorities are trying to block a meeting of Yukos shareholders which could vote to put the troubled oil company into liquidation, sources close to the situation said today.
Russian authorities put pressure on Yukos's registrar, M-Reestr, last weekend not to help Yukos prepare for a Dec. 20 extraordinary general meeting (EGM) at which shareholders will vote on liquidation or bankruptcy, the sources said.
The Kremlin may be eager to avoid a liquidation process because this would make it harder for the state to take control of Yukos's assets, analysts added.
The government has said it will auction Yukos's main oil production unit, Yugansk, on December 19th at a starting price of almost $9 billion as part of their drive to cover almost $25 billion in back-tax claims.
