MOSCOW. Feb 8 (Interfax) - Former deputy prosecutor of Moscow region Alexander Ignatenko has been charged with accepting a bribe as part of a corruption case related to illegal gambling in the region, his defense reports.
"Charges were brought under Article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code (bribery). In our opinion, proceedings were abused, therefore Ignatenko refused to testify," Alexander Asnis, a lawyer of the former prosecutor, told Interfax.
He said that Ignatenko was also charged with fraud but this charge was dropped in compliance with Polish demands at the time of the suspect's extradition to Russia. "We do not know the full scope of the charges, therefore he did not testify," the lawyer said.
After the interrogation Ignatenko was taken to the Moscow city court that will decide on the extension of his arrest, Asnis said.
Meanwhile, a source familiar with the situation told Interfax that "Ignatenko was charged with accepting a bribe and was questioned by investigators but refused to testify."
The source said Ignatenko did not plead guilty.
Asnis said that investigators want Ignatenko's arrest to be prolonged by six more months. They filed a corresponding motion with the Moscow city court. "We will protest against the continuation of this measure of restraint," the lawyer said.
Ignatenko, 52, is the main suspect in the case of illegal protection by prosecutors of a gambling business organized by businessman Ivan Nazarov in Moscow region (the former prosecutor is charged with taking bribes worth more than 48 million rubles from the organizers of illegal businesses). He was also charged with fraud involving land sites worth 2 million rubles.
According to earlier reports, Russian Interior Ministry officials and Federal Security Service officials revealed an illegal gambling chain in 15 cities of the Moscow region in February 2011.
In July 2011, the Moscow Basmanny Court issued an arrest warrant for Ignatenko. In November 2011, an international search warrant was issued for him. On January 2, 2012, Ignatenko was detained in the popular Polish mountain resort Zakopane and has been under arrest ever since.
Ignatenko was brought from Poland to Moscow on Thursday.