MOSCOW, December 12 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) – The Moscow City Court has upheld a ruling of a lower court to freeze one million rubles ($16,200) in assets belonging to Vladivostok mayor Igor Pushkarev, suspected of abuse of office and bribery, a court official told RAPSI on Monday.

Earllier, Pushkarev’s detention was extended until February 28, 2017.

Pushkarev pleaded not guilty to charges brought against him and expressed his willingness to cooperate with investigators. His brother, CEO of Vostokcement company Andrey Pushkarev, was under house arrest on suspicion of complicity in committing the alleged crime.

Earlier, then official representative for Russia’s Investigative Committee Vladimir Markin announced that between 2009 and 2014 Pushkarev «from mercenary or other personal motives» organized the acquisition by «Roads of Vladivostok» of a large volume of construction materials from the group of companies «Vostokcement» allegedly controlled by his relatives. Investigators believe that construction materials have been purchased at inflated prices. Pushkarev has received upwards of 45 million rubles ($700,000) for this.

The damage allegedly caused by Pushkarev has been estimated at more than 158 million rubles ($2.5 million), according to investigation.