PARIS, November 7. /TASS/. The Russian embassy in France has formally requested clarifications from the authorities of Monaco about the detention and questioning of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev in Monaco, the embassy’s chief spokesman Sergei Parinov told TASS late on Tuesday.

"We have requested official clarifications from Monaco authorities in connection with media reports of Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev’s detention," Parinov said. "So far, the Russian embassy and consular departments have received no official information from the authorities of the Principality."

The Russian embassy in Paris represents Russia in Monaco.

Meanwhile, AFP reported that the Russian tycoon’s lawyers, Herve Temine and Thomas Giaccardi, confirmed that Rybolovlev was detained for questioning in Monaco on Tuesday, adding that Le Monde’s publication violated the investigatory privilege.

"We urge to honor the innocent-until-proven-guilty principle," the attorneys said.

They also said that Rybolovlev and his defense team have filed counter-claims against all accusations, put forward by Swiss art shipper and dealer Yves Bouvier.

"At the moment, the Court of Revision in Monaco is considering an appeal on the issue," they said.

On Tuesday, France’s Le Monde said citing its sources that Russian billionaire and owner of the AS Monaco Football Club Dmitry Ryboloblev had been detained in Monaco to be questioned on a corruption-related case several hours before AS Monaco’s UEFA Champions League match vs Belgium’s Brugge in Monaco. .

According to the newspaper, Rybolovlev was detained on Tuesday morning. His apartment at the Belle Epoque luxury building in Monaco was searched. By Tuesday evening, the man was still in custody, along with a number of other suspects.

Le Monde says Rybolovlev’s detention was sanctioned by the court of Monaco as part of a probe into the corruption case that was initiated a year ago. The Russian billionaire is suspected of involvement in corruption and "trading in active and passive influence.".