Kirov Governor Belykh: I am not bribe-taker
MOSCOW. July 6 (Interfax) - Kirov Region Governor Nikita Belykh, who has been charged with accepting a major bribe, has issued a message to his region's residents to assure them of his honesty.
"I would like to address the source of power - the people, the Kirov region residents: everyone has a lot of imperfections, but I am not a corrupt official, not a bribe-taker. I am interested in having my honest name defended," Belykh said.
He said he had never planned to be engaged in criminal activities.
"I have not had the chance to contact my lawyer, while the appointed lawyer is apparently in good relations with the investigator, as they have each other's telephone numbers," Belykh said.
He also asked the court to free him from pretrial custody for health reasons.