Investigators have failed to prove a corruption link between Tver City Duma Speaker Viktor Pochtarev (left) and Mayor Oleg Lebedev.
Photo: Viktor Bogdanov
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Tver City Duma Goes on Trial
One half of the Tver City Duma and its former speaker went on trial at the region’s court on Monday in one of the most ringing corruption cases in the recent years. The legislators are accused of accepting over 4 million rubles in bribes.
Prosecutors say that 14 lawmakers accepted 4.3 million rubles in bribes for lobbying corporate interests and adopting dubious decisions between November 2005 and January 2006.
The Tver Duma passed a decision for alleged 2 million rubles forcing the city residents to pay more than necessary for utilities. Tver paid 90 million rubles more for utilities last winter, according to an expert panel. Tver Duma deputies also received 2 million for selling a region-run enterprise to a private firm, investigators believe.
Prosecutors suspected that Viktor Pochtarev, former speaker of the Tver Duma, was in charge of managing the bribe flow. The official denies any wrongdoing.
Investigators failed to make a link between the bribe takers and the city’s executive power and Mayor Oleg Lebedev. The mayor was under examination in December 2005 when he was accused of exerting pressure on investigators in a criminal case against his former deputy.
According to the defense of the suspected bribe takers, half of the defendants declined to testify during the inquest while others were cooperating and providing incriminating information about their former colleagues.
The bribe takers and bribers face from 7 to 12 years in prison.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of July 10, 2007
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