MOSCOW, December 23 (RAPSI) – The Moscow City Court has extended detention of ex-Minister for Open Government affairs Mikhail Abyzov charged with embezzlement until March 25, according to the court’s press service.

Other defendants, ex-CEO of RU-COM company Nikolay Stepanov, his deputy Maxim Rusakov, ex-head of Sibeko company Alexander Pelipasov, ex-CEO of the Regional Electrical Services Sergey Ilichev and finance director of REMIS firm Galina Fraidenberg, will also remain in detention for the same term.

In mid-August investigators completed probe into Abyzov and his alleged accomplices. Depending on their alleged role, they are charged with creation of a criminal community with the use o job position, embezzlement, graft, fraud, illegal business.

Investigators believe that Abyzov acting as beneficiary owner of several offshore companies organized a criminal group to steal 4 billion rubles (about $55 million at the current exchange rate) belonging to two energy companies supplying electricity to Siberia. Later, the embezzled funds were moved overseas.