MOSCOW, March 24 (RAPSI) – A court in Chelyabinsk on Thursday released former vice-governor of the Chelyabinsk Region Nikolay Sandakov charged with fraud on a 10-million-ruble ($142,800) bail, RIA Novosti reported.

On Wednesday, the court held preliminary hearings in Sandakov’s case. On Thursday, the court granted the defendant's motion and released him on bail. The case is going to reach the Prosecutor General's Office department for the Ural Federal District.

According to prosecution, Sandakov iused his position to embezzle 1.5 million rubles ($21,700). He allegedly proposed to create and maintain a positive media image of an official from the Ozersk city district of the Chelyabinsk region Evgeniy Tarasov to help him with his career. Tarasov allegedly  paid Sandakov 1.5 million rubles for this favor.

Sandakov was arrested in Chelyabinsk airport while attempting to leave the Ural Federal District.