WASHINGTON, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawyers for Rinat Akhmetov today confirmed that the Swiss daily newspaper, Neue Zuricher Zeitung (NZZ), published in Zurich, has fully retracted a series of false allegations that were first published on May 16, 2007. The editors of NZZ have also fully apologized to Mr. Akhmetov.
The public statement issued by NZZ, a copy of which is attached to this statement in the original German language, provides in part, "NZZ acknowledges that there is no connection between Akhmetov, who is President of the soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk, and organized crime in Ukraine." The editors of NZZ further stated, "The economic success of Akhmetov is not based by any means on criminally acquired starting capital." By way of apology, the NZZ public statement concluded, "NZZ regrets the publication of these statements and apologizes for any embarrassment that they may have caused Mr. Akhmetov."
Speaking from Washington, D.C., Mr. Akhmetov's lawyers Mark MacDougall and W. Randolph Teslik stated, "We believe that the editors of NZZ have acted responsibly in recognizing that the references to Mr. Akhmetov, published on May 16, 2007, were totally false and had no basis in fact."
MacDougall and Teslik added, "Mr. Akhmetov's good name is very important to him, his family and the citizens of Ukraine whom he serves as an elected public official. By issuing a swift apology, NZZ has recognized the serious risk of harm to Mr. Akhmetov's reputation that was created when this false and unsupported story was published."
Mr. Akhmetov is the principal shareholder of System Capital Management, one of the largest industrial companies in Ukraine, and a Member of the Parliament of Ukraine.
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Public Statement Issued by NZZ:
Klarstellung
"Der ukrainische Fussball als Spiegelbild der Politik"
Im Artikel "Der ukrainische Fussball als Spiegelbild der Politik" (NCC,
16.5.07) ist ein falsches und missverstandliches Bild von Rinat Achmetow
gezeichnet worden. Wie sein Anwalt betont und die NCC zur Kenntnis nimmt,
gibt es keinerlei Verbindung zwischen Achmetow, der Prasident des
Fussballklubs Schachtjor Donezk ist, und dem organisierten Verbrechen in der Ukraine. Auch habe sich Achmetow der Justiz des Landes nicht durch Absetzung
ins Ausland entzogen, wie der Artikel falschlicherweise vermuten lasst. Und
der wirtschaftliche Erfolg Achmetows basiere keineswegs auf kriminell erworbenem Startkapital. Schliesslich wird auch darauf hingewiesen, dass die
Ermordung des Journalisten Igor Aleksandrow in keinem Zusammenhang mit den Tatigkeiten von Rinat Achmetow stehe. Wenn der Artikel und die Aussagen uber
Rinat Achmetow Unannehmlichkeiten ausgelost haben, bedauert die NZZ dies und
entschuldigt sich dafur.
Clarification
"Ukrainian Soccer as a Reflection of Politics"
The article "Ukrainian Soccer as a Reflection of Politics" (NCC 16.5.07)
presents an incorrect and misleading picture of Rinat Akhmetov. As his
lawyers stress and as NZZ acknowledges, there is no connection between Akhmetov, who is President of the soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk, and organized
crime in Ukraine. Also, Akhmetov did not extract himself from the laws of Ukraine by bringing suit abroad, as the article falsely assumes. The economic success of Akhmetov is not based by any means on criminally acquired starting
capital. Finally it is also pointed out that the murder of the journalist Igor Aleksandrow has no connection with the activities of Rinat Akmetov. NZZ
regrets the publication of these statements and apologizes for any
embarrassment that they may have caused Mr. Akhmetov.
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
CONTACT: Kristen M. White of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP,
+1-202-887-4536, kwhite@akingump.com
Web site: http://akingump.com/
