The United States Embassy in Moscow on Thursday called on Russian authorities to allow staff to visit an American private equity investor who was detained last week.
The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that it “still has not received permission from Russian authorities” to visit Michael Calvey.
{mosads}”Russia’s obligations under the Bilateral Consular Convention require them to provide consular access within four days. We have requested this access multiple times,” the statement reads.
“The Russian Federation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet complied with the terms of our Bilateral Consular Convention and has not allowed us to provide consular assistance. We have expressed our strong concern about this delay through diplomatic channels,” it continues.
Calvey was arrested in Moscow seven days ago and was formally charged Thursday with fraud, according to Bloomberg News.
Calvey, the founder of Baring Vostok Capital Partners, has been accused of embezzling funds from Vostochny Bank, according to media reports.
Bloomberg News reported that Calvey’s arrest has come as a shock to the local business community in Moscow and that prominent executives and investors have called for his release. Calvey has worked in Russia for 25 years, according to The Associated Press.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Thursday that Russia has “no doubt that the investigation will determine the truth,” the AP reported.
“Russia has been committed to creating a maximally favorable climate for foreign investors,” he added.