Russian News Agency Interfax Issues Correction and Apology to Moscow Executive Igor Kesaev

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Interfax Information Services Group, the Russian news agency, today formally corrected a series of false allegations that appeared in an article first published on August 30, 2010, entitled "The Helsinki Commission of the U.S. Congress Intends to Hold Hearings Regarding the Possible Involvement of a Number of Russian Law Enforcement Officials in Corruption Schemes."  

In the official correction issued today, Interfax acknowledged that the article contained statements falsely attributed to a senior staff member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission regarding Russian business executive Igor Kesaev.  Interfax further acknowledged that the U.S. Helsinki Commission has no plans to hold hearings regarding Mr. Kesaev and his business interests.  The Interfax statement identified the source of the false information as a Russian lawyer named Alexander Dobrovinsky.

In addition to the correction, Interfax publicly apologized today to Mr. Kesaev and to its subscribers for the inaccurate report.

Speaking from Washington, D.C., Mr. Kesaev's attorney Mark MacDougall of the law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP stated, "We are gratified that the management of Interfax has acted in a responsible manner in correcting the false statements attributed to the Helsinki Commission staff."  Mr. Kesaev's London solicitor, Laura Tyler of the Schillings law firm, noted, "Mr. Kesaev places great value on his reputation in the United Kingdom, and today's apology and correction by Interfax highlight the kind of serious harm that can result from false news reporting."

Igor Kesaev is president and principal shareholder of the Mercury Group, a major diversified holding company established in 1991 and based in Moscow.

SOURCE Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP