The court in the neighboring Arkhangelsk Region said Alexei Barinov, governor of the Nenets Autonomous Area, should be taken into custody as he could use his post to conceal evidence and leave Russia.
Barinov went on a hunger strike Tuesday after being detained by prosecutors of the Arkhangelsk Region as part of a fraud investigation.
Prosecutors are investigating the governor, who left his post as head of LUKoil subsidiary ArkhangelskGeologDobycha in 2003 after several years in charge, his deputy, Sergei Goryayev, and accountant Sergei Gavrilov. The three men are suspected of using their posts to purchase several apartments illegally via the company, and engaging in other fraudulent activities to the tune of 19 million rubles ($700,000).
