Oleg Cherepanov, Chairman of NOVA Group, was detained in Nizhniy Tagil following the decision of Nevyanskiy court made at the request of the local public prosecution authorities on January 19, 2007.

Mr Cherepanov is suspected of a capital offense; he was earlier involved in a criminal suit regarding illegal confinement and domestic burglary; his current detention was performed within the framework of the criminal investigation. Mr Cherepanov had already gone through trials related to robbery and organized crime.

NOVA Group refused to comment on the situation saying they would soon produce an official report. Yet they were unable to explain what kind of report it would be and when or how it would be published.