7 Jun 2015 17:22

Astrakhan regional social development minister suspected of bribe-taking

MOSCOW. June 7 (Interfax) - A criminal case has been started against the Astrakhan regional social development minister on suspicion of accepting bribes, the top regional investigative agency said on its website.

Yekaterina Lukyanenko demanded in late May 2015 that one of her subordinates collect 700,000 rubles from organizations controlled by the ministry in exchange for "general patronage, bonuses and leniency to disciplinary violations," according to the investigators.

"The suspect was detained on June 6 2015 in the act of accepting a 260,000 ruble bribe," the regional investigative committee said.

A criminal investigation has been started on counts of large-scale bribe-taking, it said.