VOLGOGRAD, January 9 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian court has sentenced a former speaker of a local legislature to three years in a high security penal colony for accepting bribes.
Pavel Karev, former speaker of the Volgograd Duma, was taken into custody in the courtroom after being found guilty on all charges, including of accepting a 300,000 rubles ($11,400) bribe in exchange for securing reduced land rent for a local firm.
Under Russian legislation, Karev faced between seven and 10 years in prison. Prosecutors had pressed for an eight-year term but the court took into account Karev's guilty plea shortly after charges were filed and opted for a more lenient sentence.
Karev resigned as speaker and parliamentary member shortly after a criminal investigation into his activities was launched.