Denis Allayarov, the editor of the URA.RU agency, has been arrested in Yekaterinburg and will be held in custody until August 4. The Leninsky District Court made the decision today.

The investigation alleges that Allayarov bribed Andrei Karpov, his uncle and the former head of the criminal investigation department of Police Department No. 10 in Yekaterinburg, with 20,000 rubles. Karpov was not arrested but placed under house arrest.

Allayarov could face up to eight years in prison if convicted under the bribery article.

The court hearing was closed to journalists, despite objections from Allayarov and his lawyer.

On June 5, security forces raided the URA.RU editorial office, seizing documents and equipment. According to a source, Allyarov was detained the previous day and claimed that physical force was used against him during searches at his home.

The agency’s editorial board has released an official statement concerning the searches.