Russian Officials Move to Seize Media Tycoon’s Personal Property

Authorities investigating embezzlement allegations against Russian media mogul Vladimir A. Gusinsky compiled an inventory of his belongings Wednesday in preparation to seize his property.

Investigators spent the day taking stock of Gusinsky’s house in Chigasovo, a Moscow suburb. Valery Nikolayev, the chief investigator in the case, said that the confiscation could extend to property Gusinsky holds abroad and that Russia would appeal to Interpol for help.

The household inventory wouldn’t include “dishes, spoons and forks,” Nikolayev was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. “But if we find securities, bank accounts, airplanes, yachts, estates abroad belonging to V. Gusinsky, we’ll arrest them too. That’s the law.”

Gusinsky lawyer Pavel Astakhov called the property confiscation an attempt to “control Gusinsky’s personal life.” He told reporters that the seizure would not include Gusinsky’s business holdings. Gusinsky’s company, Media-Most, owns controlling interests in the NTV television network, Echo of Moscow radio and a number of publishing and satellite television ventures.

Prosecutors have charged Gusinsky with cheating the state out of $10 million in a privatization deal in St. Petersburg, the first in a series of cases against top Russian businessmen in recent weeks.