MOSCOW, July 2 (RAPSI) - Alexander Ignatenko, former First Deputy Prosecutor of the Moscow Region, has been released from custody after being held on remand in the Lefortovo detention center in Moscow since February.

Ignatenko, one of the suspects in an illegal casino case which caused a public uproar in 2011, was released on July 1 at 11:58 p.m. He refused to speak to reporters.

While the nature of Ignatenko's particular role in the scandal remains unclear, according to the law enforcement authorities, high-ranking officials from prosecutor's offices and the Interior Ministry were involved in the casino scheme, which generated a monthly revenue of between $5 million and $10 million. Businessman Ivan Nazarov allegedly operated illegal casinos in 15 towns across the Moscow Region.

In July 2011, the Basmanny District Court ordered Ignatenko's arrest in absentia, and in November he was placed on the international wanted list. In January 2012, Ignatenko was detained at the Zakopane ski resort in Poland and had been in held in detention since then. In February, the Polish authorities handed him over to Russia.

His attorney, Alexander Asnis, earlier told RAPSI that the term of his pre-trial detention expired on July 1, which means he would be released. His case was sent back to the Investigative Committee for further investigation.

Casinos were outlawed in Russia on July 1, 2009, when a federal law was passed banning gambling in the country except in four special zones located in different regions.

Since the law came into force, thousands of illegal gambling ventures have been closed down by the law enforcement agencies.

The Moscow Region gambling ring turned out to be one of the biggest of its kind.