The mayor of Bratsk, a city in the Irkutsk region, was placed under arrest after pleading guilty in a graft case, Interfax reported Friday, adding that about 80 of his supporters rallied in his defense in the city that day.
Alexander Serov was detained earlier this month after obtaining what investigators said was a bribe of 15 million rubles ($510,000) he had extorted from a local businessman.
Serov, who later filed a resignation letter, faces up to 12 years in prison over the incident.
Party boss Ivan Melnikov said Friday that the case could have been an attempt by political opponents to remove Serov, but did not name any names. Serov was one of the few mayors of prominent locations nationwide not affiliated with the ruling United Russia party.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
