Bottoms bared over bank debacle

Assets exposed: Depositors want their money back

Protesters in Moscow have exposed their bottoms in an effort to get a failed Russian bank to return its desperate depositors' cash.

Last month the Russian central bank revoked the licence of Sodbiznesbank over allegations of widespread fraud.

Many of the bank's assets are regarded as dubious and there are fears that not all deposits can be refunded.

On Wednesday clients began queuing at Sodbiznesbank's headquarters to apply for their money to be returned.

One of them told NTV television: "They are my last savings that I've put aside for my funeral".

Central bankers wanted to strip us of our possessions - well, here we are stripped bare Oleg Nazarov entertainer

Later a group of protesters gathered outside the bank, saying they wanted to draw attention to the savers' plight - and exposed their bottoms.

The demonstrators were led by Russian entertainer Oleg Nazarov, who said it was his way of fighting for his mother-in-law, who had savings in Sodbiznesbank.

"Central bankers and bastard bankers want to strip us of our possessions," he told NTV. "Well, here we are stripped bare."

The Bank of Russia has accused Sodbiznesbank of "gross repeat violations" of laws against fraud and the financing of terror groups.

It said the bank last year conducted "suspicious operations" worth $1bn.

The central bank has appointed an interim management team to liquidate the bank's assets.