Photo:
TASS
The former head of the Mari El Republic Leonid Markelov is not guilty of taking bribes. About this TASS said the lawyer of another defendant in the case Igor Trunov.
“Markelov categorically not guilty of taking bribes, rejecting all the allegations,” he said.
Trunov noted that at the present time Markelov is still in the country and will be delivered to Moscow by night. In addition, the lawyer confirmed that on April 14 the investigator intends to leave the petition in Basmanny court about election concerning Markelov measure.
Criminal case in relation to Markelov as well as the founder of the factory JSC “Akashevskaya” Nicholas Krivosha and heads of local TV channel “Region 12” Natalia Kozhanova were instituted under three articles of the criminal code: section 6 of article 290 of the criminal code (“Receiving bribe”), part 5 of article 291 of the criminal code of Russian Federation (“bribery”), part 4 of article 291.1 of the criminal code (“bribery Mediation”).
According to the UK, Markelov as the head of the Republic”, received through the Trustee Natalia Kozhanov from the founder of the factory of JSC “Akashevskaya” Nicholas Crevase as a bribe more than 235 million rubles for the protection of and assistance with property the disbursement of state support to development of agricultural complex”.
On 6 April, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the decree about the dismissal of the head of Mari El Leonid Markelov at his request. Acting head of the Republic appointed the Chairman of the Arbitration court of Moscow, ex-Deputy presidential envoy in Volga Federal district and former Senator Alexander Evstifeev. Markelov was first elected head of the Republic of Mari El in January 2001, in 2004 with the support of “United Russia” re-elected for a second term, in 2009, the Parliament of the Republic at an extraordinary session approved him for a third term. 14 January 2015 he was appointed acting head of the region before the election and September 13, 2015 the re-elected head of the Republic in the first round of elections.