MOSCOW, April 14 (RAPSI) – Investigators have charged ex-head of Russia’s Mari El Republic Leonid Markelov with receiving a large-scale bribe, the Investigative Committee announced on Friday.

Markelov’s alleged accomplice Natalia Kozhanova is charged with mediation in bribery.

Investigators filed a motion to detain the defendants. Hearings are expected to begin soon.

According to the Investigative Committee, the probe was opened into Markelov and other persons in relation to alleged reception of bribes, giving a bribe and mediation in bribery. Investigators believe that Markelov has received a 235 million ruble (about $4.1 million) bribe from the head of Akashevskaya factory Nikolay Krivash for patronage and assistance in the property payment of funds provided by state support for development of the agricultural complex.

On April 6, Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted voluntary resignation of Markelov, who was governing the region for 16 years.