A solicitor has become the first British citizen to be targeted by the Russian authorities in connection with the collapse of Yukos, the oil company.

Tim Osborne, 55, a member of the Law Society and senior partner of Wiggin Osborne Fullerlove, is unable to carry on some of his usual work after being publicly accused of a criminal offence by the Russian Government.

The lawyer, who has received no official communication about the allegation, was accused under articles 160 and 174 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation of embezzlement, misappropriation of assets and money-laundering.

The accusation was announced on the website of the Prosecutor General’s Office, but no formal notice has been given to Mr Osborne.

He told The Times: “This was a complete shock. I have had no contact with either the Federation or the prosecutor’s office.”

Mr Osborne is also the managing director of GML (formerly Group Menatep), an investment vehicle and the biggest shareholder in Yukos. The shareholders have brought proceedings in the Hague for compensation.

The Law Society of England and Wales called for the accusations to be dropped because of the breaches of human rights involved in the lack of any legal process.

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