MOSCOW, September 12 - RAPSI. The Moscow City Court has extended until November 21 the detention of jeweler Altyn's top manager Vladimir Fenkov and Eltugan Dzharapov, a former high-ranking official at the Kirghiz Interior Ministry, for gold smuggling, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI).

The Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case against several of Altyn's top managers for smuggling on October 5, 2009. Meanwhile, the accused have maintained that the criminal case is a frame-up initiated by rivals seeking to squeeze Altyn from the jewelry market. Law enforcement agencies investigated and searched Altyn's jewelry stores and offices in Moscow, St. Petersburg and Omsk.

Founded in 1990, Altyn used to operate a wide chain of jewelry stores in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Omsk, as well as abroad in Kazakhstan, Kirghizia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Supreme Court released Altyn's vice president Antonina Babosyuk on $1 million bail in May.

The investigation has been completed, and the defendants are now studying case documents.