The ministry accused the firm of evading taxes by setting up a web of affiliated firms, the BBC said. Yukos' largest shareholder and former boss, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, has been in jail on tax fraud charges since being arrested in October.

Critics say the charges are an attempt by the Russian government to keep Khodorkovsky out of politics.

President Vladimir Putin comes up for re-election in March 2004, and Khodorkovsky was thought to have been considering a challenge.

In late December, a Moscow court ruled Khodorkovsky would have to stay in jail until March 25.