MOSCOW, May 24 - RAPSI. Russia has insisted on the early release of stewardess Marina Talashkova, who has been detained in Canada on online fraud charges upon the United States' request, Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.

According to Lukashevich, Russia believes that the charges against her have been invented.

Talashkova, 24, was detained in mid-January upon the United States' request on suspicion of involvement in a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme. In April, a Toronto court extended her arrest on charges of complicity in fraud, while the United States has asked for her extradition.

The case materials are presently in a Nevada court and the U.S. authorities have filed a request for extradition.

The U.S. Attorneys Office believes Talashkova and another five suspects opened bank accounts using fake documents and withdrew funds transferred to the accounts.
Earlier, her defense attorney said in court that the prosecution has failed to produce compelling evidence of her involvement in the crime.