Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and Russian Railways Chief Executive Vladimir Yakunin meet in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, February 27, 2010. REUTERS/RIA Novosti/Pool/Alexei Nikolsky
ST PETERSBURG (Reuters) - A hoax email which for 30 minutes had Russians believing one of President Vladimir Putin's oldest allies had lost his job has deepened suspicions that a battle between business and political groups over money and power is intensifying.
The email sent to media late on Wednesday purported to be a government statement announcing Vladimir Yakunin's removal as head of state-owned Russian Railways, at his own request.
