Former head of Moscow's subway, Dmitry Gayev, has died at the age of 61, his lawyer Alexander Asnis said on Sunday.
"I do not know the exact cause of his death. But despite this tragic news Gayev’s lawyers will seek the termination of criminal proceedings against him,” Asnis said.
Gayev, who managed the Moscow rapid transit system for more than 15 years, was accused of illegally diverting 112 million rubles ($4 million) in public funds. He resigned in 2011 after allegations of fraud and embezzlement came to light.
Gayev had been accused of illegally patenting the electronic subway tickets used today that replaced tokens in 1999 and receiving 112 million rubles in patent proceeds over the following 11 years.
But the ministry's investigation department said an inquiry established that Gayev legally patented the new type of ticket.
In April the Prosecutor General’s Office canceled the Interior Ministry’s decision to close a criminal case against the former head of Moscow's subway.
