MOSCOW, June 9 (RAPSI) – A criminal case has been opened against Ilya Ponomaryov, a lawmaker in Russia's lower house of parliament and opposition activist, over alleged aiding and abetting embezzlement at state-owned innovation hub Skolkovo, spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee, Vladimir Markin, said on Tuesday.

Markin said the Investigative Committee’s request has been approved by the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, in accordance with the current legislation.

Since Ponomaryov is currently residing abroad, investigators plan to place him on the international wanted list and to request his extradition to Russia. Measures will be also taken to compensate for the damage from this crime.

Investigators claim that Ponomaryov assisted former Skolkovo Vice President Alexei Beltyukov in the embezzlement of over 22 million rubles (about $395,000) of the foundation’s money.

According to investigators, Beltyukov paid Ponomaryov $750,000 of the foundation's money, without management approval, for lectures and research projects between February 2011 and February 2012.

An investigation was launched into Beltyukov's actions to analyze the subject, the content and the academic value of the lectures that Ponomaryov was contracted to provide for $300,000. Ponomaryov has pleaded not guilty. He claims the accusations are politically motivated.

The Investigative Committee reported in May that it has opened an embezzlement case against Beltyukov.

In August 2013, Moscow's Gagarinsky District Court ruled that Ponomaryov must pay 2.7 million rubles ($52,200) to the Skolkovo Foundation, Russia's high-tech development center, for an unreasonably overpriced service. The Moscow City Court upheld the ruling in November.