Russian hackers have broken in to the tax authorities database and released the information on a CD. Now Russians can pay just over $30 to get access to information about income, address, business, telephone and the financial history of just about anyone in the Moscow region.
Earlier in 2004, a database of tax information on private individuals was released on a disk costing nearly $100, though the price has fallen to 2000 rubles (about $68), the Vedomosti financial daily reported.
The current database includes information on Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov and business tycoon Roman Abramovich, as well as other well known politicians and businessmen.
An official from the Federal Tax Service said it was necessary to find out how such information could have been leaked, but otherwise declined to comment on the hackers.
Officials in the Interior Ministry also declined to comment.