Russia’s minister of economic development Alexei Uljukajev been apprehended on suspicion of having taken bribes of two million dollars in a case involving the state oil company Rosneft.
The Russian etterforskningskomiteen lit on Monday that Uljukajev is arrested as part of an investigation of a large bestikkelsessak carried out by the security service FSB, the successor to the KGB.
- He was caught red-handed as he received a bribe, ” says Svetlana Petrenko, a spokesperson for the etterfoskningskomiteen to news agency RIA.
He is the highest-ranking Russian statesman who have been arrested since the failed coup against the government in 1991, according to news agency Reuters.
the Minister is accused to have received two million dollars, which lasts approximately 14 million, to provide Rosneft with an opportunity to take over a majority stake of Russian oil company Bashneft. The agreement, which is worth 5.3 billion dollars, was concluded last month – after that økonomidepartementet approved the agreement.
not investigated
despite the fact that økonomiministeren is suspected of having received bribes in connection with the agreement, will not Rosneft acquisition will be investigated.
- the Acquisition of Bashneft shares was made on legal basis, and is not the subject of the investigation, ” says Petrenko.
the Agreement has been met with harsh criticism, including from government officials.
Uljukajev was apprehended at night, immediately after he had been questioned, ” says a member of the committee, to Reuters.
Uncertain whether Putin is informed
Uljukajev, who took over as Russia’s økonomiminister in 2013, risks a prison sentence of between 8 and 15 years, if he is convicted.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov speaking to the news agency Interfax that these are very serious accusations that require durable evidence. Questions about president Vladimir Putin knew about the arrest, he says: “It is night. I don’t know if the president is informed.
(Dagbladet/NTB)
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