A Basmanniy Moscow court has refused to return the money that was seized from opposition activist Ksenia Sobchak during searches of her house in June 2012.

      Searches in homes of several major opposition activists were made a day before the opposition rally on June 12, as a part of a case that had been opened into the “riots” in central Moscow on May 6. The explanation for the search in Sobchak's house was that another opposition activist Ilya Yashin had been there – he and Sobchak had started dating not long before the search.

      The money - over 1 million euros, $480,000 and 480,000 rubles ($16,000) - was impounded during the search, as well as Sobchak's passport. The passport was returned to her 15 days later, but the money was not.

      The court has advanced a lead that the money was meant for mass disorders financing. The Investigative Committee now plans to inspect Sobchak's tax declarations, bank accounts and business projects for any illegal activities.

      One of the Sobchak's lawyers said the investigators did not have any legal right to seize Sobchak's money or passport during the search. Sobchak appealed seizure, but the court declined it, calling the lawyers' arguments "baseless."

      Russia's Investigation Committee has commenced a criminal suit over the calls for disturbances at the opposition rally on May 6, 2012. Currently, there 16 people involved in the case, 13 of them are brought a charge, the 11 accused are under arrest.

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