MOSCOW, May 30 (RAPSI) – The Investigative Committee of Russia has pressed final charges against former head of Russia’s Mari El Republic Leonid Markelov, who allegedly received a large-scale bribe, lawyer Sergey Sevruk has told RAPSI.

The lawyer said that all cases against Markelov were united into a single proceeding. Ex-official is charged with receiving a bribe, abuse of office and unlawful possession of weapons.

Earlier, the Moscow City Court has upheld extension of Markelov’s detention until July 13.

Investigators believe that Markelov has received a 235-million-ruble bribe (about $4 million) 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. Markelov’s alleged accomplice, head manager of Telecompany 12 Region, Kozhanova is charged with mediation in bribery.

In 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted voluntary resignation of Markelov, who was governing the region for 16 years.