MOSCOW, April 26 (RAPSI, Yevgeniya Sokolova) - Former head of Russia’s Udmurt Republic Alexander Solovyov, who stands charged with taking over 140 million rubles (about $2.5 mln) in bribes, has pleaded guilty to violating law, RAPSI reports from the Moscow City Court on Wednesday.
“Yes, I have violated law,” he said. However, Solovyov did not clarify exactly what he meant. His lawyers told RAPSI that Solovyov denied his guilt in receiving a bribe.
Former governor of the Udmurt Republic has been earlier put in detention until June 4. The Moscow City Court upheld this ruling on Wednesday.
According to investigators, in 2014-2016, Solovyov received bribes amounting to 139 million rubles from representatives of organizations behind the construction of bridge crossings over the Kama and Buy rivers in the Udmurt Republic.
Allegedly Solovyov also received a share in a commercial organization worth 2.7 million rubles (about $48.2 mln). The defendant was supposed to ensure extraordinary and immediate payment for construction services from the federal and regional budgets. He was also to allocate licenses for geological exploration and resource extraction.
On April 4, Solovyov was relieved of his position on decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin.