 In March 2001, Cawkwell caused controversy by launching a $1 million legal claim against former Russian Deputy Prime Minister Boris Fedorov.Cawkwell's efforts were in response to moves to take control of the Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom.Simon Cawkwell was forced to resign as a company director after he was found to have broken the rules of the AIM stock exchange by buying shares during a prohibited period.