STAVROPOL, March 19 - RAPSI. City manager Igor Bestuzhy, who has been charged with attempted acceptance of a large-scale bribe, faces up to 15 years in prison, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.

Investigators maintain that Bestuzhy tried to obtain 50 million rubles ($1.71million) in bribe through his assistant for leasing a land plot. He is now kept under detention.

Investigative Committee Spokesperson Vladimir Markin said earlier the city manager pleaded guilty and testified. Markin added that the defendant has been allowed to exercise his right for defense in full.

However, Human Rights Commissioner Vladimir Poluboyarenko denied the information.

"Bestuzhy officially rejected the appointed defense attorneys whom he never saw, knew and did not want them to defend him in the court. He neither signed any agreements nor pleaded guilty on suspicion of bribe-taking," the commissioner said.