Urlashov falls victim to politics – Prokhorov

Yevgeny Urlashov file photo

(Interfax – MOSCOW, July 16, 2013) Civil Platform leader Mikhail Prokhorov wrote on his Internet blog that he offered birthday congratulations to Yaroslavl Mayor Yevgeny Urlashov, arrested over a bribery case.

Prokhorov said that what was happening to Urlashov was politically motivated. “What has happened to you is direct result of our political enemies’ attitude toward you – in other words, it is a wonderful evaluation of your professional success,” Prokhorov wrote.

Mikhail Prokohrov file photo

file photo

Prokhorov wrote that he wished Urlashov “courage, internal calm, health and a combative mood.”

“Everyone who respects you understands: not every politician, not every true people’s leader can deserve such attitudes towards himself. You are strong and real. Some love you and other fear you because of this. I wish that you had more of the former in your life. Happy birthday and see you at elections!” Prokhorov wrote.

Yaroslavl’s mayor was detained on July 3. The next day, Urlashov, his deputy Dmitry Donskov, City Hall official Maxim Poikalainen and the mayor’s advisor Alexei Lopatin were charged with the extortion of a large bribe. Their suspected accomplice, Andrei Zakharov, was charged as well. The five men were subsequently remanded into custody.

Another criminal inquiry was later opened against the Yaroslavl mayor on the count of accepting another bribe of 500,000 rubles.

Urlashov has pleaded not guilty, his lawyer Sergei Golubenkov told Interfax.

Investigators plan to ask the court to remove Urlashov from the post of Yaroslavl mayor.

On July 7, Urlashov topped the Civil Platform’s party ticket in the elections to the Yaroslavl legislature.

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