Yukos' Moscow headquarters has been emptied of top executives (Agencies)

Embattled oil giant Yukos has accused the Russian government of seeking to bring about its "total destruction".

It emerged on Thursday that fear of arrest has forced all the firm's top executives to remain outside Russia.

The entire management board decided to stay abroad after prosecutors summoned Yukos' finance chief for questioning.

Shares in the company plunged 30% on Thursday and are now worth less than a dollar each, a fraction of the $16 they were worth in October 2003.

Executives currently in London include Steven Theede, the company's American chief executive.

It is understood that senior executives will be travelling in Europe and the United States in the next few days but will return to Russia if necessary.

"The actions taken against members of the Yukos management team in the last few days are more deliberate than the cycle of raids and demands placed on the company in the recent past," the company said in a statement, issued from London.

"It is our belief that this extraordinary pressure has specific aims: the removal of the management, the derailing of any settlement process with the Russian authorities and the total destruction of Yukos."

Earlier, chief financial officer Bruce Misamore had told the Financial Times he was summoned by the Russian general prosecutor's office for questioning but told them he was on a business trip.

"I am not going to sacrifice my life for [Russia's] political purposes," he said, speaking from London.

When asked if Mr Misamore had left the country for good, a Yukos spokeswoman said he is "awaiting counsel from the US State Department over whether it is safe to go back for questioning".

Mr Misamore later told the Associated Press that if the threat of arrest was removed, "then the management will be in Moscow".

The Prosecutor General's office confirmed that he was summoned for interview but declined to offer further details.

Some commentators have accused Yukos management of exaggerating their plight to gain sympathy.

(Agencies)

bring about : cause to occur or exist（使發生）