Reuters reported that aluminum magnate Mr Oleg Deripaska gave a helping hand to fellow Russian billionaire Mr Roman Abramovich on Friday in a London court battle involving three of Russia's best known businessmen.

Mr Deripaska, whose Basic Element conglomerate owns the world's top aluminum producer RUSAL Plc gave evidence via a video link from New York as Abramovich's witness.

Mr Abramovich owner of London's Chelsea soccer club who like Mr Deripaska is one of the 10 richest people in Russia is accused by former protector Mr Boris Berezovsky of selling without permission his shares in RUSAL which Mr Berezovsky says Mr Abramovich held for him in a trust agreement.

Mr Abramovich denies there was a trust arrangement. The case, which started in early October is being followed closely by Russia watchers for any new clues into the murky world of the country's business and politics.

Mr Abramovich and Mr Berezovsky were close while making their fortunes in Russia in the 1990s when a small group of businessmen snapped up shares in former state firms sold off after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They fell out a decade ago.

Much of the hearing, in a courtroom packed with bodyguards and armies of lawyers and aides, focused on a crucial meeting between Mr Deripaska, Mr Abramovich, Mr Berezovsky and two associates in London's luxury Dorchester Hotel in March 2000.

Mr Deripaska said that "We did not discuss the combining by Mr Abramovich and me of various of our aluminum assets that had already been agreed by the two of us. I was not aware of Mr Berezovsky, Mr Patarkatsishvili having any part of the newly combined businesses. I recall no discussion of Mr Berezovsky or Mr Patarkatsishvili having any such interest, nor of any discussion about a trust' in their favor."

(Sourced from Reuters)