Russian tycoon arrested in Britain on Russian fraud charges

British police said today that they have arrested Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky for alleged fraud at the request of the Russian authorities.

A Russian extradition request charges that Berezovsky defrauded the administration of the Samara region while director of a company called LogoVaz between January 1994 and December 1995.

The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested Berezovsky in London early on Monday. Another LogoVaz employee, Yuli Dubov, was arrested on the same day.

A Moscow court issued an arrest warrant last October for Berezovsky, Dubov and another employee in connection with the theft of cars from Russia's largest carmaker AvtoVaz.

LogoVaz was the official dealer for AvtoVaz and later functioned as the holding company for a range of Berezovsky investments. Dubov was general director of LogoVaz.

Berezovsky is one of the so-called "oligarchs" who amassed huge wealth during Boris Yeltsin's years as president. Berezovsky has said the various charges against him are retaliation for his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Berezovsky and Dubov are due to appear at Bow Street Magistrates Court on April 2.