MOSCOW, April 25 - RAPSI. The investigation resumed the proceedings in a criminal case concerning the large number of contraband mobile phones found at the Euroset company, attorney Marat Fayzulin told the Russian Legal Information Agency on Wednesday.

Former Euroset head Yevgeny Chichvarkin has acted as a witness in the case.

Alexei Shirokov, the executive director of the brokerage firm that supplied the mobile phones to Euroset, and Yakov Ardashnikov, the head of the company living in Monaco, were brought to responsibility as part of the case.

Several people were also sentenced, including the former deputy head of the Sheremetyevo airport's customs service. Shirokov's attorney noted that the case has been closed as contraband is no longer a crime.

"However, the resolution on closing the case was canceled as the issue of the unpaid customs duties went unsettled and it was unclear what would happen to the physical evidence," he said.

The defendant considers illegal the grounds for resuming the case and the prosecution of the individuals brought to responsibility under a decriminalized article.

Earlier, Chichvarkin said he feared returning to Russia, as he could be brought to responsibility under the case initiated in 2005.

Ardashnikov was placed on the international wanted list. He was arrested in Monaco upon the request of the Russian law enforcement agencies.

He spent roughly one year in prison. He has since been let released under his own recognizance.