By Olga Razumovskaya
MOSCOW--Russia's biggest telecommunications company, Mobile
TeleSystems (MBT), is being investigated by the U.S. Department of
Justice over its former operations in Uzbekistan, the company said
in a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on
Wednesday.
The investigation is running in parallel to an SEC probe into
MTS's operations in Uzbekistan, the company also said.
It said it intends to fully cooperate with both
investigations.
The announcement comes a day after another major
telecommunications player that operates in Russia, Amsterdam-based
VimpelCom Ltd. (VIP), said it is being investigated by the U.S.
Department of Justice over its operations in Uzbekistan where the
company has a subsidiary. VimpelCom is also being investigated by
the SEC and Dutch public prosecutors over its operations in
Uzbekistan.
MTS stopped operating in Uzbekistan about a year ago and filed
for bankruptcy in the country. At the time, analysts said the risks
of doing business in Uzbekistan were increasing.
Write to Olga Razumovskaya at olga.razumovskaya@dowjones.com
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