<instert post on the greedy 1%, income disparity, corporate America, Wall Street crooks, it’s still Bush’s fault here>

Mother Russia!

This is from way back in 2003, but still intriguing:

“The Russian authorities have asked Interpol to help trace a tycoon accused of threatening to kill a senior official in a dispute over rights to some of the country’s most lucrative vodka brands.

The businessman, Yuri Shefler, who amassed a fortune exporting Stolichnaya and other labels around the world, denies that he threatened to kill Vladimir Loginov, a former deputy agriculture minister fighting to win back the vodka rights for the government.

Mr Shefler, a multi-millionaire, claims that the allegations are part of a plot to hijack his company. “Mr Shefler has never spoken to Mr Loginov and no one has ever shown any proof of the conversation,” said a company spokesman in Moscow. “This is all part of an illegal attempt by officials to gain control of our business.” Mr Shefler has not been seen in Russia since March last year. A warrant for his arrest has been issued and the manhunt has now moved to Western Europe, where Mr Shefler is said to own several homes.”