Iraq After Russia put the CEO( Jewish Mikhail Khodorkovsky) of the oil giant Yukos in prison these things follow MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) -- YUKOS and Sibneft sealed a $45 billion merger on Friday to create Russia's biggest oil firm and opened the way to foreign capital, but YUKOS has already struck a deal with world number one Exxon Mobil. Yukos controlling shareholder and CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, arrested in Russia on suspicion of fraud and tax violations November 26, 2004 MOSCOW -- A half-dozen executives of Yukos, the embattled oil giant, have left Russia and the company's chief financial officer said he won't return until he learns whether the government plans to charge him. The company's six-member management board has been meeting in London this week. The only member of Yukos's management reachable in Moscow yesterday told Dow Jones Newswires he planned to flee the country today because of the company's ongoing troubles with prosecutors. Yukos and its subsidiaries face a $24.5 billion tax bill, and its former chief executive has been imprisoned for more than a year on fraud and tax-evasion charges. -------------------------------------------- Jewish senior executives in Russian oil company Yukos, the world's fourth largest oil company, have fled to Israel, and are staying at a hotel in the centre of the country. Other Jewish executives have either been arrested in Russia, or have had their movements restricted there. It was reported that Yukos shareholder Leonid Nevzlin had been resident in Israel for several weeks, and had submitted a request for Israeli citizenship. Several other Yukos senior executives joined Nevzlin, including Vladimir Dubov. Vasily Shaknovsky did not manage to leave Russia. Executives currently in London include Steven Theede, the company's American chief executive. -------------------------------------- HERZLIYA, Israel - Fugitive Russian oil baron Leonid Nevzlin, one of the world's richest men just a year ago, is now living a quiet life in this exclusive seaside community, trying to salvage what remains of a shattered business empire. In a rare interview Monday at his home, Nevzlin branded Russian President Vladimir Putin a "corrupt dictator," yet held out hope the Kremlin will drop criminal charges against him and other executives of the Yukos oil giant, even if it means heavy losses in his wealth. Whatever happens, Nevzlin made it clear that his future is in Israel. Cheney Rebukes Russia on Rights By STEVEN LEE MYERS Published: May 5, 2006 MOSCOW, May 4 - Vice President Dick Cheney today delivered the Bush administration's strongest rebuke of Russia to date, saying the Russian government "unfairly and improperly restricted" people's rights and suggesting that it sought to use the country's vast oil and gas resources as "tools of intimidation or blackmail." ------------------ War in Georgia: The Israeli connection For past seven years, Israeli companies have been helping Gerogian army to preparer for war against Russia through arms deals, training of infantry units and security advice Arie Egozi Latest Update: 08.10.08, 11:53 / Israel News The fighting which broke out over the weekend between Russia and Georgia has brought Israel's intensive involvement in the region into the limelight. This involvement includes the sale of advanced weapons to Georgia and the training of the Georgian army's infantry forces. The Defense Ministry held a special meeting Sunday to discuss the various arms deals held by Israelis in Georgia, but no change in policy has been announced as of yet ------------------ Russian Threat Over US Missile Shield Uncalled For Says NATO Feb 20, 2007 Russia's threats to target with ballistic missiles any Polish or Czech sites involved in a future US missile defence system are "uncalled for," a NATO spokesman said Monday. Earlier Monday General Nikolai Solovtsov, head of Russia's strategic missile force, threatened a tough response if the United States went ahead with its plan to site a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic. Russia, he said, could easily restart production of medium-range missiles if the decision were taken to withdraw from the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), signed by Moscow and Washington in 1987. ----------------------------------