Investigators on Monday opened a criminal case against former Tula Governor Vyacheslav Dudka on bribery charges, RIA-Novosti reported, citing an Investigative Committee spokesman.
Dudka, who stepped down in July, is accused of accepting a $1.4 million bribe last year in exchange for handing a land plot in the city of Tula to a businessman. Also under investigation are the businessman and a former subordinate of Dudka believed to have acted as a middleman in the case.
Last week, President Dmitry Medvedev nominated State Duma Deputy Vladimir Gruzdev of United Russia to Dudka's post. Gruzdev is expected to be confirmed by the regional legislature on Thursday.
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