Court arrests ex-min Abyzov over 4 bln rbl embezzlement

MOSCOW, Mar 27 (PRIME) -- The Basmanny District Court of Moscow on Wednesday arrested former Open Government Minister Mikhail Abyzov over 4 billion ruble embezzlement and creation of a crime group until May 25.

Abyzov did not admit his guilt, while his lawyer Alexander Asnis said he will appeal the arrest.

On Tuesday, investigators opened a criminal case against Abyzov, detained him and pressed charges. Investigators believe that cooperating with Nikolai Stepanov, Maxim Rusakov, Galina Freidenberg, Alexander Pelipasov, and Sergei Ilyichov, by deceiving shareholders of Siberian Energy Company and Regional Electric Grids, which were producing and transmitting electric power in the Novosibirsk Region, Abyzov embezzled 4 billion rubles from these companies, and the money was fully withdrawn abroad.

(64.1683 rubles – U.S. $1)

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