MOSCOW, March 29 - RAPSI. Tax claims against five companies of AST, one of Russia's largest publishing groups, amount to about $228 million, the Vedomosti newspaper reported on Thursday.

The companies were additionally charged the VAT and income tax with fines and penalties taken into account following the conducted examinations. The tax authorities decided that AST was using fly-by-night companies when selling products.

Some companies of the group (Producers) were selling goods with minimum price markup, while others (distributors) later bought it with a maximum markup. The margin remained in the fly-by-night companies and was deduced from taxation.

The amount of tax claims exceeds the company's annual turnover assessed at 5.7 billion rubles ($194.07 million).

Meanwhile the decision has been made only regarding one of the companies. The lawsuit amounts to 711 million rubles ($24.2). The company has challenged the decision in court.