MOSCOW, December 22 (RAPSI) – The Far East District Military Court in Khabarovsk has upheld a lower court’s ruling to change a measure of restraint for two defendants in the case over embezzling 5.2 billion rubles (about $89 million) allocated for the construction of Vostochny Cosmodrome, Yuriy Khrizman and Vladimir Ashihmin, from house arrest to detention, the court’s press service has told RAPSI.

The hearing has been held behind closed doors.

Defendants in the case are ex-CEO of Dalspetsstroy company, Yuriy Khrizman, his son Mikhail Khrizman, head accountant Vladimir Ashihmin, and former chairman of the Legislative Duma of Khabarovsk Krai Victor Chudov.

According to investigators, Khrizman, his son and Chudov embezzled about 106 million rubles ($1.8 million) belonging to Dalspetsstroy.

Victims in the case are Dalspetsstroy company and Roscosmos space corporation. Moreover, Yuriy Khrizman and Ashihmin abused their authority by misusing money allocated for the Cosmodrome construction. They allegedly caused damage to Russia valued at 5.2 billion rubles.

The construction of the space center, due to become Russia's main launch site, began in 2012. The first launch vehicle operation was carried out on April 28, 2016.