Russia's beleaguered Yukos dismisses manager as shareholder ties cut.

(From Agence France Presse)

Russia's beleaguered oil giant Yukos replaced one of its top managers as it moved to disassociate itself from core shareholders who are facing criminal charges.

Yukos said in a statement posted on its website that it had dismissed Mikhail Brudno as president of Yukos RM, the company's refining and marketing unit.

Brudno, who owns more than three percent of Yukos, was charged last month with embezzlement, joining the other five core company shareholders being pursued by the legal authorities either in Russia or abroad in exile.

"Being guided by a Yukos board of directors recommendation that no shareholders should …