Corruption

Associates of Russian tycoon Vekselberg held in bribery probe

Russian law enforcement officers investigating bribery allegations on Monday detained two senior executives who work for billionaire Viktor Vekselberg, one of a dwindling group of tycoons who built their fortunes independently of the Kremlin.

State investigators said they had opened a criminal case into allegations that executives in firms controlled by Vekselberg had bribed regional officials. Armed state security agents in ski masks searched the central Moscow offices of Renova Group, which manages Vekselberg's assets.

"The company will cooperate with law-enforcement bodies. All staff are working as usual," Renova spokesman Andrey Shtorkh said. "This is not connected with Vekselberg personally."