Prosecutors sought a five-year jail term on Tuesday against Russia's former representative to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, or EBRD, who is currently on trial facing bribery charges.
Yelena Kotova is accused of having extorted $1.4 million from a Canadian oil exploration company that had sought a $95-million loan from the EBRD while working in Russia, Interfax said.
Prosecutors likewise sought five years for Kotova's alleged accomplice, former banker Igor Lebedev, who stands accused of having mediated the graft scheme.
Moscow's Simonovsky District Court is set to issue a verdict in the case next Monday.
Kotova, 59, who represented Russia at the EBRD between 2005 and 2011, pleaded not guilty, according to her Facebook page.
She went on to claim via Facebook that the case had been fabricated by the FBI as a means of decreasing Russia's influence at the EBRD.
In Russia, the crime of attempted commercial bribery carries a maximum term of 12 years in prison and a fine of up to 50 times the size of the bribe, or more than $70 million in Kotova's case.
See also:
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.