MOSCOW, June 28 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court has upheld detention of a board member for Inter RAO energy holding Karina Tsurkan charged with espionage, RAPSI correspondent reports from the courtroom.

The Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow detained Tsurkan on June 15. She could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

According to the defendant’s attorney Dmitry Tsuprik, the criminal case against Tsurkan was launched as an attempt to remove her from the office, adding that she denied wrongdoing.

Aside from being the holding’s board member, Tsurkan also headed its trading department.