MOSCOW, June 24. /TASS/. Russia’s investigators on Wednesday brought formal charges against State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomaryov over his complicity in embezzling 22 million rubles ($750,000) from the Skolkovo hi-tech hub’s funds, said his lawyer Maria Bast.

"The investigator has notified me of an indictment against Ponomaryov," Bast said, adding that they were planning to appeal against the decision.

The lawyer added that Ponomaryov had been notified of the investigator’s actions and still considered them unlawful, regarding the case as "legally unsound" and denying the charges.