YEKATERINBURG, September 22. /TASS/. A first hearing against Ukrainian national Sergey Skirta, accused of industrial espionage, will begin at Yekaterinburg on September 30, the court’s press service told TASS on Tuesday. This will be held behind closed doors.

Skirta was detained in the Urals city in February. Investigators allege he was gathering scientific and technical information about the activity of Russian enterprises, notably the Urals Turbine Plant. Drawings and classified documents of the facility were found on him during the arrest.

Plant officials say handover of these materials to a foreign side would have done damage to the producer worth hundreds of millions of rubles. Charges carry a five-year jail term.

Skirta told officers he worked for Ukrteknosintez company, a Ukrainian-Belarusian unit incorporated within the Ukrrosmetall holding making compressor stations, power equipment and components for electric power generator steam turbines.

Officers found visiting cards and papers in his possession suggesting his work for the concern. The company denies Skirta was among its employees.