Russia's Economy Minister Detained over Bribe

The Russian Investigative Committee (IC) has detained Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev, IC spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko told (TASS) news agency on Tuesday.

    "The circumstances of the crime are connected with Alexey Ulyukayev who holds a government post in the Russian Federation receiving $2 million on November 14 for the positive assessment provided by the Economic Development Ministry that allowed Rosneft to complete the deal on purchasing the government's 50% stake in Bashneft," Petrenko said.     "The minister has been detained. Investigators plan to indict Alexey Ulyukayev and petition the measure of restraint soon," she added.

    The criminal case was opened against Ulyukayev after the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) completed a series of operational activities.     The case was opened by the Russian Investigative Committee's Main investigative department on investigating particularly important cases.

    "The criminal case was opened based on Part 6 of Article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code - receiving a bribe in especially large amounts," she noted. This article envisages a fine worth from 80 to 100 times the amount of the bribe with the ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities, or from eight to 15 years in prison with a fine of 70 times the amount of the bribe or without a fine.

Source: QNA