MOSCOW, December 26 (RAPSI, Lyudmila Klenko) – The Moscow City Court has upheld a lower court’s decision to extend the detention of Vladivostok mayor Igor Pushkarev charged with abuse of office and bribery, the court’s press office told RAPSI on Monday.

Pushkarev will stay in jail until February 28, 2017.

The court has also dismissed an appeal filed by the mayor's brother, Andrey Pushkarev, against the extension of his house arrest.

Investigators believe 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. Construction materials have been allegedly 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.

Pushkarev pleaded not guilty and expressed his willingness to cooperate with investigators.