MOSCOW, January 15 - RAPSI. Yelena Kotova, former board member of the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and Igor Lebedev, former top manager of a leading Russian bank, are facing charges of attempting to accept bribes, the Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday.

"As previously reported, the defendants used their official status and authority, as well as their business contacts, to receive a bribe from representatives of a Canadian oil and gas company," the ministry stated. The Canadian company referred to is CanBaikal Resources, which is owned by Russian businessman Sergei Chernikov.

The investigation found that Kotova had guaranteed a $95 million loan approval in exchange for the payment of $1.425 million. Lebedev acted as a negotiator between Kotova and the borrowing company. He also laid down the conditions and guarantees of the deal.

"The defense claims the charges have no grounds and are politically motivated," Kotova's lawyer said, adding that the investigation has failed to turn up any new evidence.
According to the defense lawyer, the charges are based on the testimonies of witnesses who are not Russian nationals and who reside outside Russia, therefore, the testimonies cannot be easily verified.

The Interior Ministry has already announced that the investigation is in its final stage.