Russian economy minister detained on suspicion of bribe

Russian Minister of Economic Development Alexey Ulyukayev is suspected of accepting a bribe of $2m (1.8 million euros) for issuing a "positive" assessment of the Bashneft oil company, formed by the transfer of the oil related assets of the Soviet oil ministry in Bashkortostan. Half of Bashneft was bought by Rosneft, the integrated oil company majority owned by the Government of Russia. Rosneft is headquartered in Moscow's Balchug district near the Kremlin. 

The TASS Russian News Agency reported on Tuesday morning that the Russian Investigative Committee (IC) had confirmed "The minister has been detained. Investigators plan to indict Alexey Ulyukayev and petition the measure of restraint soon."  

"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 per cent stake in Bashneft," IC spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said.

Ulyukayev said on Monday of last week that Russia would sell a state stake in the Rosneft oil giant using the firm's October 11 share price ($11.75 billion). The proceeds were to be forwarded to the state budget through dividends from Rosneftegaz before mid December. 

Fifteen years in jail

"The minister has been detained. Investigators plan to indict Alexey Ulyukayev and petition the measure of restraint soon," Petrenko added. "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. 

If convicted, Ulyukayev faces a fine of up to 100 times the amount of the bribe and a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities. Alternatively a jail term of eight to 15 years plus a fine of 70 times the amount of the bribe, or no fine, are also possible penalties. 

The minister also predicted last week that fourth-quarter figures for the Russian economy would be "visibly" more positive after more than two years of contraction. Figures released on Monday showed the economy was still flatlining after a year-on-year contraction of 0.4 percent in the third quarter. The Russian economy plunged by 3.7 percent in 2015. 

jm/bw (Reuters, AP)