MOSCOW, June 13 - RAPSI. The authorities have extended the investigation into former Yukos lawyer Pavel Ivlev until September 2. Ivlev has been charged with involvement in money laundering and oil theft with former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev, his attorney Konstantin Rivkin told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) on Wednesday.

Earlier, Ivlev found himself in the heart of a scandal after foreign media published information alleging that First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov is affiliated with financial organizations.

The ALM Feldmans legal firm, which earlier employed Ivlev, accused him of helping the media to launch an attack against Shuvalov, whom he used to represent.

Ivlev's case is a part of the Yukos affair. Ivlev previously told RAPSI that his case may soon be separated from the Yukos case, and it could be submitted to court for trial in his absence.

The Moscow Basmanny District Court issued an arrest warrant for Ivlev in absentia in 2006.

He has been on the international wanted list ever since. Investigators have charged Ivlev with oil theft and money laundering. Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were sentenced to 13 years in prison for the same crimes.