Azerbaijani tycoon Mubariz Mansimov has hit back at the "lies" of critics of his Turkish tanker company Palmali Shipping.
The shipowner said the company does not work with sanctioned countries.
He was cited by Turkish and Russian media as saying: “The size of the investment of our company for some reason began to annoy some forces who decided to blacken our reputation with such a cheap lie.
"But here's what I tell them: all your attempts are in vain and will return to you like a boomerang."
He added: "Now these dark forces have found some sites in Turkey and spread lies and slander about us through these resources.
"And on behalf of our company, I officially declare that not one of our ships, not only our company, does not conduct work in the countries against which sanctions are applied."
Fake news spread by rats?
He added: "Our company has an international image and all our activities are conducted transparently. These ships in these fake news have nothing to do with Palmali Holding. We know perfectly well who is behind this company, no matter how much he tried to hide like rats."
The Turan news agency cited a statement by the company as saying: "Such kind of false news is made on purpose to damage our reputation and create problems to us."
It added: "Palmali Group of companies does not cooperate with any sanctioned country and will never do it in future."
The company said it is opening a new office in the US and the process is close to completion.
"We work transparently and within the framework of law. That is why we are in the list of the largest and most reliable companies in the world," it said.
"How can a sanctioned company open an office in the USA? None of mentioned ships belongs to Palmali Group."
Assets reassessed
Meanwhile, the assets of the Turkish tanker owner's bankrupt Russian unit have been reassessed as worth RUB 2.5bn ($37.53m).
According to Russia's Unified Federal Register of Bankruptcy Information, Palmali LLC's assets had been worth RUB 494m in November, when it was declared bankrupt.
The main creditor is Sberbank, which is owed more than RUB 13bn.
TradeWinds reported in February that a quartet of small tankers were auctioned as part of the dispute.
The four 6,600-dwt sisterships were involved in Sberbank’s claim.
Mansimov has said he was planning to appeal the bankruptcy decision.
TradeWinds asked Palmali if there was any legal follow-up to the case but received no response.
The tankers' sale in Gibraltar generated an estimated $8m in total, which is just a fraction of the amount Sberbank had been trying to recover.
