Russia's Investigative Committee said Tuesday that it has detained top theatre and film director Kirill Serebrennikov on suspicion of committing massive fraud.

Serebrennikov is renowned as the artistic director of Moscow's Gogol Centre theatre and has staged productions at the legendary Bolshoi Theatre. 

The Investigative Committee, which probes serious crime, said in a statement he was held on suspicion of defrauding the state of at least 68 million rubles ($1.15 million) in funding over three years.