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MOSCOW, RUSSIA - NEWS Outdoor, owned by the News Corp media empire of Rupert Murdoch, said on Tuesday that Russian authorities had raided its offices but no charges had been brought against the company.
Calling the raid 'unacceptable,' News Outdoor said it was connected to a criminal inquiry into Moscow city's own publicity and advertising office.
While recognising the necessity of the raid, the company said there was no reason to resort to such heavy-handed measures, especially since it had expressed its readiness to cooperate with the inquiry.
News Outdoor said the methods used could sully its reputation and cast doubt on its financial health, while noting that President Dmitri Medvedev has stressed his commitment to the rule of law in Russia.
An official letter will be sent to the authorities, it added.
News Outdoor operates some 40,000 advertising hoardings across Russia, accouting for 20 per cent of the outdoor market, and employs about 4,000 people.
In early August, News Corp head Murdoch said he was increasingly unhappy with the turn of events in Russia where being successful in business only increased the risks. -- AFP
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