The governor of Russia's northwestern Komi region has been arrested on charges of fraud and heading a criminal gang.
Police arrested Governor Vyacheslav Gaizer and 18 other people on September 19.
Vladimir Markin, spokesman for the Investigative Committee was quoting as saying the "criminal group" planned to "appropriate state property by illegal means."
He added that the alleged criminal activity stretched back to 2006.
Among the other detainees are the speaker of the region's legislature, a deputy governor, and several local businessmen.
A police official told TASS that additional searches and interrogations will continue through September 21.
A search of Gaizer's office allegedly revealed a large sum of cash, documents related to offshore companies, and a collection of valuable watches.
Gaizer was appointed to head Komi in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev. He was elected to the post in 2014.
