Russian tycoon quizzed over Aeroflot funds

Mr Berezovsky says the affair is politically motivated

Prosecutors have questioned the Russian businessman and media tycoon Boris Berezovsky in connection with the alleged embezzlement of millions of dollars from the national airline, Aeroflot.

Mr Berezovsky spent two hours at the prosecutor-general's office in Moscow on Tuesday.

He later denounced the Aeroflot investigation, saying it was politically motivated.

"I have no relation to Aeroflot's activities... It's all pure politics, pure blackmail," he said.

President Putin has cracked down on Russia's oligarchs

The Aeroflot money is said to have been siphoned off through two Swiss-based companies - Forus and Andava - allegedly set up by Mr Berezovsky.

Charges against Mr Berezovsky were dropped last year after the then prosecutor-general, Yuri Skuratov, was dismissed by former President Boris Yeltsin.

The new summons follows the handing over of documents in the case by Swiss investigators last month.

Media stake

Mr Berezovsky holds 49% of the state-run television channel ORT, and has accused the government of President Vladimir Putin of pressuring him to surrender his stake.

On Monday, Mr Berezovsky set up a trust, handing over his stake to journalists and cultural figures to prevent the government taking control.

"The full responsibility for this political affair lies directly with the president," he said.

Another media magnate, Vladimir Gusinsky, has already been briefly jailed for business infringements and is currently refusing to return to Russia to answer questions.

Mr Berezovsky, a former Kremlin insider under Mr Yeltsin, gave Mr Putin favourable media coverage in the run-up to the recent election.

But recently he has said he will form a new opposition, accusing Mr Putin of trying to impose authoritarian rule.