Nokia: We Asked Nicely For The Leaked N8 Back, But Murtazin Refused [Updated]

Nokia has given us an official comment on the report that they have enlisted the help of Russian authorities to take mobile-review to task, and it seems the Finns weren't so much upset with what was mentioned in the N8 preview but with the fact that Eldar Murtazin wouldn't give them the prototype handset back.  "Several weeks back" Nokia told us "we formally requested the return of all unauthorized Nokia property from Mr. Murtazin and he declined to respond."

"Nokia takes all matters relating to the security of its products, confidential and proprietary information and intellectual property very seriously. Mr. Murtazin has been very public about his possession of unauthorized Nokia property. Several weeks back, we formally requested the return of all unauthorized Nokia property from Mr. Murtazin and he declined to respond. As a result, we have contacted the Russian authorities to assist us in the return of all unauthorized Nokia property."

That seems to contradict some of what Murtazin himself said earlier today.  The mobile-review chief said he had made numerous attempts over the past few months to speak with Nokia, but had been fruitless, and says the Finns actively rejected any communication with him.

So, as it stands we're left waiting to see whether Murtazin will return the N8 prototype – and, indeed, any other pre-release Nokia devices he may or may not have – and presumably get the Nokia lawyers off his back.

Update: It seems the statement Nokia provided us with was part of a larger article on their official Conversations blog, which went live and was subsequently pulled earlier on today.  You can view Google's cached version of the article here.  Eldar Murtazin, meanwhile, maintains he did not receive any letter requesting return of the N8 prototype.Update 2: The Nokia Conversations article is back online; the team there say a plugin issue accidentally took it down without them realising it.