DUSHANBE, June 4, Asia-Plus - The State Unitary Enterprise Tajikistan Aluminum Company (Talco; formerly Tajik Aluminum Plant or TadAZ) has filed suit in the High Court in London against the United Company RUSAL.

Press release issued by Talco says the company has launched a claim for $500 million for alleged involvement of RUSAL and its affiliates in frauds between 1996 and 2004.  

“In May 2003, TadAZ filed suits against nine physical and legal entities, including the former director of TADAZ Abduqodir Ermatov, Tajik businessmen Avaz Nazarov and his company Ansol Limited,” press release said. 

Sayohat Qodirova, a spokeswoman for Talco, told Asia-Plus that the company had revealed cases of illegal payments in an amount of several millions US dollars to Abduqodir Ermatov and members of his family.  “According to the company administration, these payments were made for the purpose of fraud,” the spokeswoman said, noting that the company administration supposes that the RUSAL top managers were aware of those relations and used that fact in interest of RUSAL.  

The company has established that RUSAL and its affiliates encouraged actions aimed against interest of Talco, participating in them through delivery of alumina and other raw materials at too high prices and purchase of aluminum at large discounts, Qodirova said.