Top Russian prosecutor resigns

Embezzlement at the national airline has been top of Volkov's list

A leading Russian prosecutor who has been investigating several high-profile corruption cases has abruptly resigned.

Nikolai Volkov told Kommersant newspaper that he had made his decision because of political pressure.

I either work or do not work - I will not be a 'pocket' investigator

Nikolai Volkov

However, a spokesman for the prosecutor general's office said merely that Mr Volkov had wanted early retirement and the request had been granted.

Mr Volkov has alleged that hundreds of millions of dollars had been embezzled from the national airline, Aeroflot, through Swiss companies. Aeroflot officials have denied wrongdoing.

'In no-one's pocket'

"I have left because I wanted to. I either work or do not work. I will not be a 'pocket' investigator," Kommersant quoted Mr Volkov as saying.

Boris Berezovsky is close to Russia's rulers

The newspaper said the reason behind the Mr Volkov's resignation could have been that he overstepped his authority, sending his Swiss colleagues a fax signed by the prosecutor general inviting them to come to Russia.

The Aeroflot case implicates the Russian media magnate Boris Berezovsky, who is accused of founding companies in Switzerland to manage embezzlement of Aeroflot funds.

The Swiss authorities froze accounts belonging to Mr Berezovsky worth $66m in 1999.

'Too open'

Correspondents say Mr Volkov has been a frequent visitor to Switzerland as part of his investigations and he has spoken freely with reporters there.

Vedomosti newspaper, citing an unnamed police official, said Mr Volkov was ousted for being too open with the press during the lengthy probe.

The prosecutor had also made allegations against top officials in the administration of former President Boris Yeltsin that they had taken bribes in return for building projects at the Kremlin.

Prosecution office spokesman Leonid Troshin said Mr Volkov's request for early retirement was received on Friday and it was granted on Monday.

He declined to say who would take over the various investigations.