The statement also emphasizes that "the pressure applied by prosecutors on Yukos management might interfere with the implementation of the plan."
Yukos management board also discussed the draft of the Yukos anti-crisis program for 2005-2009. "Due to the proposed sale of Yuganskneftegaz at a discounted price, unfounded tax claims for 2003 in the amount of 170 billion rubles ($1 equals 28.28 rubles), and pressure deliberately applied on Yukos top executives, the management of the company deems the implementation of the program impossible," the statement says.
The document also points out that despite all difficulties, Yukos management team attempted to take all possible measures to keep the company afloat during the past year.
"Despite unprecedented pressure on the company, Yukos management will continue to fulfill its obligations before all creditors and investors in accordance with international standards of corporate governance," the statement concludes.
Simultaneously, Yukos management appealed to the Lithuanian government to postpone the sale of Mazeikiu nafta shares for four months, Lithuanian newspaper Lietuvos rytas reports.
Previously, Yukos, which owns 53.7% of Mazeikiu nafta shares, put out a bid offer for additional 9.72% stake in the company. After a meeting with a senior manager of a Yukos subsidiary, Interim Economy Minister of Lithuania Petras Cesna stated that the Lithuanian government would not want to postpone the sale, although he asked the Cabinet members "to make a final decision" on the issue as soon as possible.
