Prosecutors check, how could Timchenko, fell under the sanctions as a member of the inner circle of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to translate through the US financial system funds allegedly obtained as a result of corrupt deals, said the source newspaper.

The fact that an investigation is carried out in the US in respect of Gennady Timchenko, as the newspaper writes The New York Times, citing sources, and at the disposal of the documents. According to the companion publication, the investigation has since 2011 lead the management of the federal prosecutor in Brooklyn and FBI agents in New York.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the investigation conducted by the Office US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. In particular, the study of the transaction for the purchase of oil from "Rosneft" and its subsequent resale of the Swiss oil trader Gunvor Group, which was co-founder Timchenko, one of the sources told the newspaper. According to him, prosecutors have requested information on the prices set by Gunvor.
One of the sources of the newspaper also said that the prosecutor's office checks whether the personal assets of the Russian president may be associated with means, IKoba obtained illegally. Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the "absurd" speculation about the possible financial or business relationship between Putin and Timchenko and, in particular, the head of state investments in Gunvor. "We are not aware of any investigation, and we do not keep track of such things," - quoted him as The Wall Street Journal.

The investigation carried out under the Initiative on the Stolen Asset Recovery (Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative), which the US government launched in 2010, told two sources. Initially, the initiative was designed to recover stolen state assets of corrupt officials in the Middle East and Africa. After the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovych US Justice Department under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative began his inspection in order to return the kidnapped former Kiev government assets. In relation to Russia, this initiative has never been applied.

Financial transactions that test US prosecutors, were committed before the US imposed sanctions against Gennady Timchenko. But if it turns out that the transfer of funds have been received crimeth path, we will focus on illegal money laundering, and criminal prosecution of money laundering would allow the US to achieve the ad so-called red notice by Interpol for the arrest of Timchenko in third countries with the possibility of his extradition to the United States, the newspaper said.

Timchenko and the press-service of "Rosneft" declined to comment. The Office of the Federal Prosecutor and the Ministry of Justice of the United States also declined to comment.

In Gunvor said that oil trader was not notified of the investigations involving the company, and can not comment about Gennady Timchenko, who in March sold its stake (43.5%) in the company of his business partner, the Swedish billionaire Torbjorn Tornqvist (№663 in the global ranking of billionaires, according to Forbes, the state - $ 2.6 billion). In Gunvor also stressed that more than two years did not buy crude oil from "Rosneft". The possibility of violations related to tenders of "Rosneft" in Gunvor denied. The official representative of Network Pitras stressed that Timchenko's Gunvor was previously a shareholder and never was a board member orBoard of Directors, and Mr. Putin has never had a stake in the oil traders.

Gunvor Group in a presentation to investors in 2013, said that even in 2011, US prosecutors have demanded from his Houston "daughter», Castor Americas, documents relating to, inter alia, to the activities of the company for the sale of oil, said the New York Times. In addition, three members of Castor and Gunvor one employee had been questioned.

Gennady Timchenko, has, in addition to Russian, Finnish citizenship, March 20, has been included in the sanctions list of the United States as a member of the inner circle of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Due Timchenko sanctions barred from entering the United States, and his property in the country should be frozen. In August Timchenko told Tass that he decided to temporarily abandon trips to Europe because of the information that the American secret services allegedly preparing a provocation against him.

In an interview with Forbes in 2012, Timchenko said that periodically meets with Vladimir Putin, but never discusses with the president of the business issues. "In 2000, when he became president, I was already 28th on the list of major Finnish taxpayers'in, I was a millionaire," - said Timchenko, commenting on speculation about possible links his well-being with the advent of Putin to power . "I think it's the leader that Russia needs today Vladimir Vladimirovich -. Very deep, balanced person He knows how to listen You can say anything you want, but it's the person who really did a lot for Russia..", - Said the billionaire .

In May, at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Putin said the US sanctions amount to ensure that the "ukontrapupit" people close to him. "Well, these are my friends I am proud that I have such friends They are absolutely patriotic people, their business is focused on our country..", - He said. The President also advised fallen under sanctions billionaires to appeal the sanction in court.