A Moscow court on Thursday released French banker Philippe Delpal from jail into house arrest, days before a summit between the Russian and French presidents.
Delpal, a senior executive in investment firm Baring Vostok, was arrested in February together with company chief Michael Calvey and other suspects.
The arrests raised serious concerns among foreign investors in Russia.
Judge Anatoly Korolev in the Moscow City court ruled in favour of Delpal's appeal against last month's decision to extend his detention by another three months.
Delpal was released in the courtroom, an AFP correspondent there said.
The surprise decision came ahead of talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, who are meeting at a seaside retreat in southern France on Monday.
The case alleges that Calvey, Delpal, and other suspects defrauded Russia's Vostochny Bank of 2.5 billion rubles ($38.7 million) -- charges they deny as fabricated by a competitor.
Speaking during Thursday's hearing, Delpal rejected the allegations and promised he would not leave Russia if released from detention during the investigation.
"I am not implicated in this alleged crime," he said. "My life is in Moscow, fleeing is not an option because it will seem like I recognise my guilt."
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