MOSCOW, September 20 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court has upheld extension of detention for an alleged criminal group leader Yury Pichugin, the press-service of the court has told RAPSI.

The defendant is to stay in detention until November 18. Pichugin is charged with unlawful trafficking of weapons and ammunition as well as organizing a criminal group.

In February 2017, Russia’s Investigative Committee reported that it managed to disrupt activity of an organized criminal group operating in the Komi Republic.

According to investigators, in 1994, Pichugin organized a gang, which included athletes, former law enforcement officers and military servicemen. The crime syndicate was involved in racket, large scale embezzlement, robbery, real estate fraud and other crimes, including management of funds transferred to and from prison inmates.