Abyzov pleads not guilty - lawyer
MOSCOW. March 27 (Interfax) - Former Open Government Minister Mikhail Abyzov has pleaded not guilty on counts of a fraud and the establishment of an organized criminal group, Abyzov's lawyer Alexander Asnis told Interfax.
"He strongly denies his culpability," Asnis said.
In his words, the Basmanny District Court in Moscow will consider the imposition of a restrictive measure on Abyzov on Wednesday.
It was reported on Tuesday that Abyzov had been detained on counts of a major fraud and the establishment of an organized criminal group in the course of an inquiry into 4 billion rubles siphoned off from Russia.
Abyzov was accused of forming a criminal group by using his official status and of committing a major fraud.
His case is being investigated by the Russian Investigative Committee's Main Directorate for the Investigation of High-Profile Cases.