Russian media mogul arrested

Kremlin critic Gusinsky faces theft charges

Russian media tycoon Vladimir Gusinsky has been arrested on charges of stealing state property.

Mr Gusinsky, whose Media-Most empire includes NTV television, the newspaper Segodnya and the radio station Ekho Moskvy, is accused of stealing state property valued at $10 million, according to a statement by the prosecutor-general's office.

Media-Most has frequently criticised the policies of the Kremlin and Russian President Vladimir Putin, including the war in Chechnya, and lodged allegations of official corruption.

President Putin said that Mr Gusinsky's detention had been a surprise for him and that he would look into the situation immediately.

Armed raid

Last month investigators backed by armed policemen raided Media-Most's offices, reinforcing criticism that President Putin intended to crack down on news outlets critical of his administration.

Speaking during a visit to Spain, the president said he hoped the prosecutor-general's office had "enough grounds and that all was done within the law".

"I do not know anything about this. The prosecutor-general's office takes its decisions independently," he added.

In the US, White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said: " We are quite concerned about some of the steps taken against the free media."