Oil giant in spin over fatal car crash

Oil giant in spin over fatal car crash

Lukoil, Russia’s biggest oil company faces mounting public outrage after one of its vice-presidents was involved in a car crash that led to the deaths of two women.

Police were quick to pin the accident on gynaecologist Vera Sidelnikova and her daughter-in-law Olga Alexandrina who authorities said pulled out into the path of Anatoly Barkov's Mercedes.

Barkov and his driver escaped the crash without serious injury.

Bloggers however are dissatisfied with the official version of events, prompting allegations of a police cover up. Eyewitnesses report seeing Barkov's Mercedes swerve into the opposite lane trying to jump the morning traffic.

The accident has been heavily discussed on Moscow radio stations with debates focusing on whether Russia’s notoriously corrupt police are trying to protect a top official.

According to The Moscow Times the story is now "the most discussed topic in the Russian blogosphere".

Here’s the full article.

The crash has also become the subject of a Rap by Ivan Alexeyev, aka Noise MC.  The song, "Mercedes 666", sets Barkov in hell along with Denis Yevsukov, a Moscow police man who shot dead two people last year during a supermarket rampage.   

Barkov says he’s ready to hear from any possible witnesses. Apart from offering their condolences, Lukoil remains tightlipped.