Astrakhan Mayor Stolyarov, accused of bribery, claims he took money for city needs

In Astrakhan, during the court session held on October 21, Mikhail Stolyarov, the Mayor of Astrakhan, who was temporarily suspended from his post and accused of bribery, reiterated his innocence. The court read out the testimony given by Mikhail Stolyarov to investigators, in which he stated he had repeatedly refused to take money offered by a businessman and eventually took it not for himself, but for the needs of the city.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 18, the Kirov District Court of Astrakhan began considering the criminal case against Mikhail Stolyarov. In June, July, and August, the trial was interrupted, since Mikhail Stolyarov got to the hospital.

Advocate Sergey Kutushev has also filed a motion to attach to the materials of the criminal case the documents describing the defendant as a person. After the investigators had examined diplomas, certificates of honour, and other awards, the materials were attached to the criminal case.

Public prosecutor Mikhail Reznichenko has asked the court to attach to the case materials the answer received from Open Joint-Stock Company (OJSC) "Volga-Caspian Joint Stock Bank", which stated that Mikhail Stolyarov owned a stake of 90,750 shares of the "Volga-Caspian Joint Stock Bank" with a nominal value of 17 roubles per share. The public prosecutor asked the court to arrest the above securities.

The court hearing has been postponed until October 24, when the court is to listen to the oral statements of the parties.