Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

The Russian Federal Service for Financial Markets will begin going to court to challenge violations of investors' rights, a power it had not previously exercised.

Vladimir Milovidov, the service's head, said: "We have never before exercised this right, and we understand that we're being criticized for that." Ilya Alexandrov, head of the investment consulting practice at Yakovlev & Partners, added: "The market service's decision to actively help investors is a positive step forward, but it could lead to potential abuses of power," such as initiating lawsuits to carry out asset transfers in the name of investor protection."