The court arrested the ex-head of Mari El

The Basmanny Court of Moscow arrested the former governor Mari El Leonid Markelov on charges of receiving a bribe. It is reported by Interfax .

He will be in custody until June 12. Markelov himself refused to admit his guilt and promised to continue the "political career." His lawyers intend to appeal the court decision.

The investigation petitioned for Markelov's arrest. He is accused of receiving a bribe of 235 million rubles. The criminal case against the ex-head of the republic was opened under part 6 of Article 290 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (receiving a bribe). Other defendants in the case are the head of the Region 12 television channel Natalia Kozhanova and the former owner of the Akashevo agricultural holding Nikolai Krivash.

Kozhanova was charged with mediation in bribery. She was also arrested until June 12. The head of the channel does not admit his guilt.

According to investigators, Markelov received a bribe from Krivash through Kozhanov for "patronage and assistance in property payment of state support for the development of an agricultural complex."

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Leonid Markelov on April 6. On the morning of April 13, he was detained on suspicion of a bribe. According to Interfax sources, Markelov “was forced” to write a resignation statement after the Kremlin was informed of the criminal case against him.

The press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin really knew about the investigation against the head of Mari El. However, as the representative of the Kremlin said, “the rotation of the leadership of the republic is primarily associated with the long term of Markelov’s stay in office” (quote for Interfax).