MOSCOW, December 22 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court chair Olga Yegorova, speaking in an interview with Kommersant newspaper published on Monday, said about debatable decisions made by investigators in a criminal case against billionaire Vladimir Yevtushenkov.

Yevtushenkov, board chairman of AFK Sistema, was implicated in the sale of Bashneft stock in 2009 claimed by investigators to be fraudelent.

He was charged with money laundering and placed under house arrest in September at the request of the investigators. However, later they filed a motion seeking to weaken conditions of the house arrest and let Yevtushenkov attend his office. Moscow’s Basmanny District dismissed the motion for procedural violations, and investigators decided to do without an order of the court.  However, they filed a new motion later with the Moscow City Court which was dismissed as well, Yegorova said. 

These actions may show that investigators are afraid of bearing responsibility for their decisions and attempt to evade possible public scorn, according to Yegorova.

Yevtushenkov was released on December 16, although Basmanny District Court extended in November his house arrest until March 16, 2015.

Yegorova said that he was released by investigators without a court order.

In Russian legal system, house arrest is regulated by the Article 107 of the Criminal Code. It is employed when a softer measure cannot be issued, and is set at two-month period, with possible extensions. Besides permanent residence, other restrictions concerning communication devices and the use of internet can be implemented.