WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th February, 2019) US authorities are aware that an American citizen was detained in Russia but cannot divulge details due to privacy considerations, a State Department spokesperson told Sputnik.
Baring Vostok investment company founder and member of the Vostochny Bank's board of directors, Michael Calvey, who is suspected of embezzling 2.5 billion rubles ($37.5 million), was detained by Russian authorities earlier in the day.
"We are aware that a US citizen was arrested on February 14, 2019 in Russia," the State Department official said on Friday. "Due to privacy considerations, we do not have any additional information at this time."
Calvey at the hearing on Friday denied his involvement in the fraud, linking the criminal case against him with his corporate conflict with the other co-owner of the Vostochny Bank, Artyom Avetisyan. The suspect asked the court to release him on bail of 5 million rubles ($75,000).
