Russia: fraud case against Gusinsky reinstated

A court in Moscow has reinstated criminal fraud charges against the Russian media tycoon, Vladimir Gusinsky.

It overturned the ruling of a lower court which had dismissed the charges as unfounded.

Mr Gusinsky is the head of Media-Most, the biggest independent media group in Russia, which has been highly critical of the government.

He says that the case against him is politically motivated and is part of a Kremlin-inspired campaign to muzzle its critics.

Mr Gusinsky is currently under house arrest in Spain pending hearings on whether he should be extradited to Russia to face charges.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service