RTTue, 15 Nov 2016 13:08 UTC
© Sergei Karpukhin / ReutersRussian Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev
Russian Economy Minister Aleksey Ulyukayev has been officially accused of taking bribes and extortion on a large scale, the Russian Investigative Committee has stated.
Ulyukayev reportedly demanded a bribe for granting a positive conclusion and assessment of transaction on the acquisition of Bashneft by Russia's top oil company Rosneft. He was caught red-handed when receiving the bribe.According to the Investigative Committee, Ulyukayev threatened he would use the leverage provided by his ministerial post to hinder Rosneft's operations.
Rosneft representatives reported Ulyukayev's alleged actions to the committee.
"Thanks to the Rosneft representatives' timely address to law enforcement authorities with a statement about the economy minister's illegal actions, he was caught red-handed on November 14 this year, while receiving a bribe of US$2 million," Svetlana Petrenko, deputy head of the Investigative Committee, said in a statement.
Russian investigators have asked the court to order the house arrest of Ulyukayev, Svetlana Petrenko, deputy head of the Investigative Committee, RIA Novosti reported on Tuesday.
"The investigation is seeking house arrest of the Economy Minister, Aleksey Ulyukayev," Petrenko said according to RIA.
Ulyukayev has been under investigation by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) for over a year, a source earlier told RIA Novosti.If proven guilty, he faces a maximum penalty of a fine ranging from 80 to 100 times the sum of the bribe. He can also be stripped of the right to serve in state positions for up to 15 years.
Alternatively, he may face from eight to 15 years behind bars and possibly a fine of 70 times the sum of the bribe.
Comment: A model that the US should emulate to eliminate corruption.
Update: After Ulyukayev's arrest, Russian
markets saw a boost for the ruble and Russian stocks (coinciding with the Trump-Putin call as well as a slight recovery in oil prices).
Russian officials
commented on the scandal: The head of the upper house's International Relations Committee, Aleksey Pushkov, pointed out that bribery is becoming "Russian roulette" in Russian business and politics. As it should be, and thanks to Putin's anti-corruption push for the last several years. State Duma MP and former Chief Prosecutor of Crimea Natalya Poklonskaya wrote on Facebook:
The detention of a civil servant of the highest rank is yet another confirmation of the official position of our state: there are no 'untouchables' in Russia. Everyone who chooses a criminal path must understand that sooner or later everything that is hidden will become public.
At the same time, these officials cautioned against hasty conclusions, adding that that's the courts' job.
A court has ordered Ulyukayev to be placed under house arrest, and Putin has
dismissed him from his position. He was questioned today for five hours, but has not pled guilty and has refused to provide testimony. His lawyers say he was framed. If found guilty, he faces a maximum penalty of a fine 80-100x what he took as a bribe, and will lose the right to serve in government for up to 15 years. Either that, or a slightly smaller fine and 8-15 years in jail.
Comment: A model that the US should emulate to eliminate corruption.
Update: After Ulyukayev's arrest, Russian markets saw a boost for the ruble and Russian stocks (coinciding with the Trump-Putin call as well as a slight recovery in oil prices).
Russian officials commented on the scandal: The head of the upper house's International Relations Committee, Aleksey Pushkov, pointed out that bribery is becoming "Russian roulette" in Russian business and politics. As it should be, and thanks to Putin's anti-corruption push for the last several years. State Duma MP and former Chief Prosecutor of Crimea Natalya Poklonskaya wrote on Facebook:
At the same time, these officials cautioned against hasty conclusions, adding that that's the courts' job.
A court has ordered Ulyukayev to be placed under house arrest, and Putin has dismissed him from his position. He was questioned today for five hours, but has not pled guilty and has refused to provide testimony. His lawyers say he was framed. If found guilty, he faces a maximum penalty of a fine 80-100x what he took as a bribe, and will lose the right to serve in government for up to 15 years. Either that, or a slightly smaller fine and 8-15 years in jail.