Moscow, Russia - A Moscow court ruled Tuesday that a notorious sect leader who promised to resurrect children killed in the 2004 Beslan tragedy should remain in custody until August 6.
A criminal case against Grigory Grabovoi, who claimed he could heal diseases and resurrect people and collected large sums of money from his victims, was opened March 20 after parents in Beslan demanded a probe into his activities. Grabovoi was arrested April 6.
A total of 331 people died in the Beslan siege, including 186 children.
Lawyers acting for Grigory Grabovoi had demanded their client be released.
"I have lodged a complaint with the Russian Prosecutor General's Office against Grabovoi's illegal prosecution," said Anatoly Gromov, Grabovoi's defense counsel, adding that his client was indicted on charges of fraud committed by a group of people, whereas only Grabovoi had been arrested.