MOSCOW, April 8 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court on Monday upheld extension of detention for ill-reputed suspended senator Rauf Arashukov and his father Raul Arashukov until June 30, RAPSI reports from the courtroom.

The Basmanny District Court of Moscow extended their detention on March 26.

Rauf Arashukov was arrested and detained in late January. The upper house of parliament stripped him of immunity and gave consent to his prosecution upon an application by the Prosecutor General. He stands charged with murder, participation in a gang and witness tampering.

According to investigators, the Federation Council member was involved in the murder of a Karachay-Cherkessia public youth movement’s deputy chairman Aslan Zhukov and the republican president’s advisor Fral Shebzukhov in 2010.

Moreover, investigators believe that the senator is implicated to natural gas embezzlement from Gazprom company.

He has pleaded not guilty.

Arashukov’s father is also a defendant in the 30-billion-ruble natural gas embezzlement case ($455 million). He was detained on February 1.

Moreover, the court placed branch manager of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Stavropol Guzer Khashukoyev, CEO of Gazprom Gazoraspredelenie Astrakhan and Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Astrakhan Ruslan Arashukov, first deputy CEO of Gazprom Gazoraspredelenie Stavropol Nikolay Romanov and CEO of Gazprom Mezhregiongaz Stavropol Igor Travinov in jail for the same term.

According to investigation, all of them are involved in gas embezzlement from Gazprom company. The top managers have been allegedly stealing gas from the state-run energy giant over a period of several years.

Raul Arashukov pleads not guilty and calls the case against him fabricated.