MOSCOW, July 3 (Itar-Tass) - The suspects in the criminal case over extortion of bribes, detained together with Yaroslavl mayor Yevgeny Urlashov, began to give evidence, which confirms these facts and expose the mayor, Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass.
"We already have the first results of the investigation; for example, some suspects began to give evidence confirming the facts of the extortion of bribe and exposing the prime role the mayor played in this crime," Markin said.
Despite the significance of the confession, the investigators intend to continue the probe in order to have a whole body of direct and indirect evidence when bringing charges, the spokesman said.
During the probe, the suspects will be checked for involvement in similar crimes, he added.
The SK said Yaroslavl mayor Yevgeny Urlashov and his subordinates had extorted a 14-milion-rouble bribe from the director of a commercial firm in the period from December 2012 through July 2013. The bribe had to be paid from the sum transferred to the company for completed works.
"Urslashov and his subordinates are suspected of extorting 45 million roubles. Fourteen million roubles is the first documented tranche which the suspects had to receive," police said.
On Wednesday, First Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party Ivan Melnikov called for careful approach to the issue concerning the detention of Urlashov.
"You have to objectively clarify this issue; it is necessary to know the details of all these operations. There were cases where a person indeed broke the law and was detained for legitimate reasons, but there is a case with mayors nominated by the Communist Party, against whom obvious provocations were staged. For example, we've been trying to prove the innocence of Alexander Serov from Bratsk for two years," Melnikov said.
Urlashov, formerly a United Russia member, planned to lead the regional list of the Civil Platform Party at the upcoming elections to the regional parliament on September 8.