Deputy General Prosecutor of Russia Alexander Zvyagintsev announced recently a surprising figure: on Russia's initiative there are more than 66 000 people internationally wanted. "Such a number of fugitives has accumulated over many years of Russia’s participation in international arrangements for tracing criminals through Interpol and the CIS. Together with the Interior Ministry we organize their international arrest warrant and when discovered we take steps to arrest and surrender in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ", said Zvyagintsev.

At the same time the Interpol database has only 457 people wanted by the Russian justice system; 66 000 and 457 - how to explain such a difference?

Rich fugitives try to escape in the developed countries with liberal legislation, explains Deputy General Prosecutor, - in particular, in the UK and Israel - but most of the accused is hiding in the CIS countries. Interpol is rarely involved to find the latter: this, indeed, explains the difference in the figures.

Cards of wanted through Interpol are posted on his site with a special mark in red (red notice). "We call it " red corner notice". The presence of "red corner" means that a person has been charged in any given country and that he/she must be immediately found and be arrested, even though the country where he/she is, may refuse to do it ", explained to Forbes in the Moscow bureau of Interpol. "Red Corner 'is put on the cards of wanted upon the request of the search initiators: Interpol can neither place it, nor remove it. This tagging helps identify which fugitives’ arrest the law enforcement authorities of a country considers particularly important. All the 457 wanted by Russia were awarded a "red corner".

And yet there are many oddities in the list. There is half a dozen wanted on the Yukos case, including lawyers and heads of short-live companies, but none of the two main defendants hiding abroad - co-owners of “Menatep” Nevzlin and Mikhail Brudno. However, there was such a mark on their cards some time ago. But another shareholder of “Menatep”, Vladimir Dubov preserved the "red corner". The former vice-president of “Russneft” Sergei Bahir is the one to be arrested immediately, but his boss - head of Russneft Mikhail Gutseriev, who in Russia filed quite similar charges - is not there. Arms dealer Viktor Bout still sentenced in Thai prison is listed in there, but not the former co-owner of “Euroset” Evgeny Chichvarkin, who was declared internationally wanted Russia Prosecutor General's Office a year ago.

It is difficult to understand the motives guiding Interpol while it updates the wanted list on its website, said Chichvarkin’s lawyer Yuri Gervis. "If a person is not present on the site, it does not mean that he/she is not wanted - I have experienced this more than once in my practice", he said to Forbes. In addition, Interpol usually refrains from any comments on the reasons of frequently unmotivated disappearances from the officially published lists, referring to the internal instructions, added Gervis.

Forbes selected 15 most prominent Russians associated with big business from Interpol database. For the most part they are not fugitives, living abroad quite legally, so that the chances of their extradition to Russia can be considered to be minimal.
Andrey Azarov, "Volgotanker”
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Andrey Azarov
Former CEO of “Volgotanker-AMS", head of the company OAO “Volgotanker”, one of the largest river carriers of petroleum products in Russia. Along with other top managers of the company he has been accused of fraud and money laundering.

The maximum penalty for the charges against him - 10 years of imprisonment.
Sergei Bahir, “Russneft”
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Sergei Bahir
Former vice-president of the oil company “Russneft”. Together with its president, Mikhail Gutseriev has been accused of illegal business activities and of funds laundering in large-scale, committed by an organized group.

The maximum penalty for the charges against him - 15 years of imprisonment.
Boris Berezovsky
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Boris Berezovsky
In the past a billionaire, co-owner of “LogoVAZ”, "Sibneft", "Aeroflot", "Russian Aluminum" and many other companies, in 90’s - one of the most powerful oligarchs in Russia. In 1999 he was put on the federal wanted list by Russia's Prosecutor General's Office declared, and in 2003 – on the international list on charges of fraud and money laundering. Later, prosecutors added a number of other charges, on which the new criminal cases were instituted. Since 2001 he has been living in Britain, where in 2003 he received political refugee status.

In 2007 in absentia he was sentenced to 6 years of the colony on Aeroflot case. Investigation of a number of other cases is in process.
Viktor But
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Viktor But
Russian businessman, owner of several airlines, which the U.S. law enforcement considers one of the world's biggest illegal arms dealers. The search through Interpol has been initiated by the United States, not Russia. However, due to notoriety of the case on Victor Bout, we included him into our "list of fifteen".

Upon the prosecutor's office of the Southern District of New York request, But was arrested in Bangkok in March 2008. The U.S. accused But of aiding terrorism by entering into a criminal conspiracy to supply weapons to Colombian rebels and drug traffickers. In August 2009 the Thai court denied the U.S. request for extradition of Viktor But on the grounds that the prosecution had not provided sufficient evidence of his guilt. In February 2010, the American side brought new charges: on conspiracy while trying to launder funds, on fraud by using internet technology and "criminal conspiracy to violate the law on Emergency Economic Power Acts."

In case of extradition to the United States But would face life imprisonment.
Andrew Goldberg, "Yunisstroy"
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Andrew Goldberg
Former owner of a large Moscow building company Yunisstroy, eloped in 1997 with customers’ money of approximately $ 30 million. The criminal case was initiated under “cheat in a large scale”.

The maximum penalty for the charges against him – 10-year imprisonment.
Alexander Glukhovskoy, Investment Company "Russia"
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Alexander Glukhovskoy
Top-manager of the investment company "Russia", one of the most well-known corporate raiders of the country, who had captured about 100 companies by falsifying documents, pressuring on shareholders, and other power methods. He has been charged with fraud and money laundering, acquired in result of the crime commission.

The maximum penalty for the charges against him – 10-year imprisonment.
Vladimir Dubov, Yukos
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Vladimir Dubov
Former State Duma deputy, a shareholder of the oil company “Yukos”, co-owner of ”Menatep” Group. Together with other Yukos executives has been charged with theft by fraud in large-scale, in damage of property by deception, as well as tax evasion.

The maximum penalty for the charges against him – 10-year imprisonment.
Mikhail Zhivilo, MIKOM
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Mikhail Zhivilo
Former president of the Group of companies MIKOM, which in the mid 90-ies controlled the Kuznetsk Metallurgical Combine, Novokuznetsk Aluminum Plant, several major local coal companies. In 2000 General Prosecutors Office of Russia accused Zhivilo of organizing attempt on the governor of the Kemerovo region, Aman Tuleev. Zhivilo disappeared in France, where in 2001 he was arrested on a request of the Russian law enforcement bodies, but later was released. In 2005 he was granted a refugee status in France.

The maximum penalty for the charges - life imprisonment.
Ilya Katsnelson, "Volgotanker
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Ilya Katsnelson
Former head of the company “Volgotanker Marine Service”, a subsidiary of OAO “Volgotanker”, one of the Russian largest river carriers of petroleum products. Along with other top managers of the company has been accused of fraud and money laundering.

The maximum penalty for the charges against him - 10 years of imprisonment.
Alexander Makarov, “Tolyiattiazot”
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Alexander Makarov
Vice-president of the corporation “Tolyiattiazot”, the world's largest producer of ammonia. In 2006 he was convicted of tax evasion, fraud in large-scale and laundering of funds obtained by criminal means. According to the company, currently is abroad for training.

The maximum penalty for the charges against him - 10 years of imprisonment.
Vladimir Mahlay, “Tolyiattiazot”
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Vladimir Mahlay
President of the corporation “Tolyiattiazot”, the world's largest producer of ammonia. In 2006 he was convicted of tax evasion, fraud in large-scale and laundering of funds obtained by criminal means. According to the company, is abroad for medical treatment.

The maximum penalty for the charges against him - 10 years imprisonment.
Yuri Nikitin, oil trader
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Yuri Nikitin
The oil trader who was accused of conspiracy with the former leaders of the Russian state-owned company “Sovcomflot” he took part in a number of fraudulent schemes, resulting in a steal of $ 500 million from the company

The maximum penalty for the charges against him - 10 years of imprisonment.
Konstantin Starodubtsev, Investment Company "Russia"
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Konstantin Starodubtsev
Founder and head of the investment company "Russia", one of the most well-known corporate raiders of the country who captured about 100 companies by falsifying documents, by pressing on shareholders, and using othe power methods. He has been charged with fraud and money laundering acquired in result of the crime commission.

The maximum penalty for the charges against him - 10 years of imprisonment.
Alexander Temerko, “Yukos”
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Alexander Temerko
Former vice president and deputy chairman of the oil company “Yukos”. He has been accused of allegedly fraudulent acquisition of 19,7% shares of OAO “Eniseyneftegaz”. Lives in London. In December 2005 the London Magistrate's Court refused the Prosecutor's Office to extradite him.

The maximum penalty for the charges against him - 10 years of imprisonment.
Mikhail Trushin, "Yukos”
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Mikhail Trushin
Former first vice-president of the oil company “Yukos”. He has been accused of embezzlement and money laundering, dispatched by the company to charity.

Earlier in the same case and on the same charges a deputy chief of “Yukos-Moscow” Alexei Kurtsin was sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment. In 2005 Trushin gained political asylum in Britain.