MOSCOW, June 19 (RAPSI) – Charges of perverting the course of justice have been brought against defense lawyers for ex-mayor of Vladivostok Igor Pushkarev in a bribery case, the Investigative Committee’s press service reports.

According to the investigation, during the trial of Pushkarev and his accomplices, the attorneys attempted to obstruct justice using illegal methods and ways. They attempted to influence through foul means and threats a representative of a victim, whose testimony uncovered the defendants, inducing him not to testify against Pushkarev.

Moreover, the accused lawyers put pressure on a representative of a victim through the Vladivostok administration’s officials. However, they could not win them round, the statement reads.

In April 2019, Moscow’s Tverskoy District Court sentenced Pushkarev to 15 years in a high-security prison for receiving bribes, abuse of power and graft. He was also fined 500 million rubles ($7.2 million at the current exchange rate) and barred from holding authority posts for 10 years.

Moreover, the court recovered 143 million rubles from Pushkarev in favor of “Roads of Vladivostok” granting the company’s suit.