Detained Kirov Region Governor to Appeal to European Court of Human Rights

Lawyer of the detained governor of the Russia's Kirov region, Nikita Belykh, Vadim Prokhorov said that in any event the case of Belykh will reach the European Court of Human Rights.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The detained governor of the Russia's Kirov region, Nikita Belykh, will file an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, Belykh's lawyer Vadim Prokhorov said Saturday.

Belykh was detained on Friday in Moscow while receiving a nearly $450,000 bribe.

"In any event, this case will reach the European Court of Human Rights," the lawyer said.

Prokhorov asked the court to place the detainee under house arrest instead of holding him in custody.

Nikita Belykh dismissed on Saturday the investigator's claim he took bribe from foreign investors, the investigator said at a court hearing.

"During the questioning, Belykh said he took the money for the need of the city of Kirov," the investigator said, stressing that bribery was a grave crime.

He added that the bribe was taken from "foreign investors."

Belykh told the court he denies accusations but is ready to cooperate with investigators.