UPDATE: Kremlin unaware of reasons behind checks at Russia Onexim

(Rewrites headline, lede, adds details throughout)

MOSCOW, Apr 15 (PRIME) – The Kremlin is unaware of reasons of checks held at offices of Russia’s Onexim Group, controlled by tycoon Mikhail Prokhorov, and it would be wrong to link it with reports by media holding RBC on the Panama paper leak or with Kremlin’s dissatisfaction over it, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday.

On Thursday, the tax authorities checked offices of the Soglasie insurance company, part of the Onexim Group. Later, some media reported that checks were held to exert pressure on Prokhorov and force him sell media-holing RBC.

“This information is wrong a priori. It is absolutely inappropriate to link any investigative actions in the holding with the editorial activity of RBC, or even link it with the Kremlin in any way,” Peskov said answering a question whether checks were held due to Kremlin’s dissatisfaction with RBC’s attention to the Panama leak scandal.

Kremlin found out about the checks through media reports, and it has no data or explanations of the reasons of the inspections from law enforcement authorities, investigative authorities, or from the media holding itself, he said.

President Vladimir Putin does not plan to meet with Prokhorov any time soon, Peskov added.

An official representative for Onexim Group told PRIME companies of the group are operating as usual. “We are working as usual today,” the representative said.

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