MOSCOW, August 31 (RAPSI) – The Basmanny District Court of Moscow has extended house arrest of ex-governor of Russia’s Udmurt Republic Alexander Solovyov, charged with taking over 140 million rubles (about $2.5 mln) in bribes, until October 4, RAPSI correspondent learnt in the courtroom on Thursday.

During the hearing held on May 31, the prosecutor in the case said that the former governor pleaded guilty and started cooperating with investigators.

Solovyov’s lawyer confirmed that his client is cooperating with investigators.

On April 26, the defendant said that he had “violated the law” but did not clarify what he meant by that.

According to investigators, in 2014-2016, Solovyov received bribes amounting to 139 million rubles from representatives of organizations behind the construction of bridge crossings over the Kama and Buy rivers in the Udmurt Republic.

Allegedly Solovyov also received a share in a commercial organization worth 2.7 million rubles (about $48.2 mln). The defendant was supposed to ensure extraordinary and immediate payment for construction services from the federal and regional budgets. He was also to allocate licenses for geological exploration and resource extraction.

On April 4, Solovyov was relieved of his position on decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin.