<p>The Kremlin is dismantling Yukos, formerly Russian's second largest oil company, after the firm became embroiled in a tax evasion scandal and was declared bankrupt. Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Yukos' former CEO, is currently serving an eight-year prison sentence for fraud. <br /><br />According to Russian daily publication Kommersant, however, experts in the industry are speculating that TNK-BP was pulled into the sale by the Kremlin at the last minute, as the company's participation is needed to make up the two bidders required for the sale to go ahead. <br /><br />According to the Times Online, if BP were to purchase the 9.44% stake in Rosneft, the company could be sued for receiving stolen property. The publication reported GML, Yukos' largest shareholder, as claiming that Yukos is being dismantled for political reasons, and that its assets are being stolen. <br /><br />The Times Online reported that GML is suing The Russian Federation for $50 billion, and added that Yukos' assets could also be in line for compensation. The publication cited Tim Osborne, GML's director, as saying that the company would sue the Western companies seeking to benefit from the breakup of Yukos, if its lawsuit against the Russian Federation failed. <br /><br />GML's allegations have come alongside a damning statement released by Attorney Robert Amsterdam on behalf of Mr Khodorkovsky. In the statement, Mr Amsterdam condemned the 'immoral opportunism' of Western companies looking to buy into Yukos.</p>
