MOSCOW, February 20 (RAPSI) – Russia's Interior Ministry and Investigative Committee have annulled an order on international search of Sergei Pugachev, former Russian senator and founder of the bankrupted Mezhprombank, Kommersant newspaper writes on Thursday.

On December 19, the Basmanny District Court issued an arrest warrant for Pugachev after he was put on a wanted list. On December 27, the Moscow City Court lifted in-absentia arrest order. The judge said that the norms of Criminal Code were violated during the request's filing, and the appeal court had to return the case on appeal.

On January 15, the Basmanny District Court rejected a motion filed by the investigators asking to arrest Pugachev. On Febuary 3, the Moscow City Court upheld the refusal of the Basmanny District Court to arrest Pugachev in absentia.

Mezhprombank was stripped of its banking license on Oct. 5, 2010 and recognized as bankrupt on November 2010. A criminal case on the charges of premeditated bankruptcy was initiated in 2011. Pugachev isn't listed officially as one of the bank's owners, but he is considered to be the real beneficiary of the bank.

The bank's problems started in July 2010 after it technically defaulted on EUR 200 million in Eurobonds. The bank also cross-defaulted on a EUR 200 million Eurobond issue maturing in 2013. The Bank of Russia revoked Mezhprombank's license in October 2010.

In 2012, Russia's Deposit Insurance Agency obtained a French court order to seize a castle in France owned by Pugachev in order to repay debts to depositors of the tycoon's embattled bank.

In 2010 The Sunday Times placed Pugachyov on the British billionaire list with estimated GBP 750 million worth of assets.