MOSCOW, October 10 (RAPSI) – The former Vladivostok mayor Igor Pushkarev charged with abuse of office and bribery had completed studying the materials of a criminal case opened against him, lawyer Alexander Vysotsky told RAPSI on Tuesday.

Vysotsky noted that the case now is to be transferred to the Prosecutor General’s Office for approval of the indictment, and that court hearings of the case are to be held in Vladivostok.

This August, the Moscow City Court extended Pushkarev’s detention until November 30.

Pushkarev claims that charges against him are preposterous, and his criminal case is fabricated.

Nevertheless, investigators believe that between 2009 and 2016 Pushkarev «from mercenary or other personal motives» organized the acquisition by «Roads of Vladivostok» of a large volume of construction materials from the group of companies Vostokcement allegedly controlled by his relatives. Construction materials have been allegedly purchased at inflated prices. Pushkarev has received upwards of 75 million rubles ($1,292 at the current exchange rate) for this.

In total, Vostokcement received over 1.2 billion rubles (about $20.6 million) for the delivered construction materials while Pushkarev’s relatives received dividends in the amount of more than 500 million rubles ($8.6 million), according to the Investigative Committee.

Pushkerev has been removed from his post by court order.