The bank also picked up the bill for their foreign trips.

ECONOMIST: A bank fraud leaves unanswered political questions

Another was to use foreign currency: the bank could lend, or accept a bill of exchange, in one currency and collect its debt in another, building a hidden rate of interest into the exchange rate.

ECONOMIST: Millennium issue: Banking

On Tuesday, Mr Putin introduced a bill which forbids officials and their spouses from keeping money in foreign bank accounts.

BBC: Russia tightens bank account control