Oil giant accused over €2.8bn back tax

Russia’s Tax Ministry today dealt a new blow to the beleaguered Yukos oil giant, accusing it of failing to pay €2.8bn in back taxes, fines and other penalties.

The ministry said Yukos had dodged taxes by setting up a network of affiliated companies that claimed tax breaks it described as unlawful, according to an official statement carried by the Interfax news agency.