A criminal case has been opened against Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev under Article 290-6 of the Russian Criminal Code (bribe-taking), the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation reports.
“The minister has been detained; necessary investigative actions are on-going,” the investigators say.
According to their report, on November 14 Alexey Ulyukayev was detained on suspicion of taking a $2 mln bribe for the Ministry’s ‘positive evaluation’ which allowed Rosneft to complete the deal on purchasing the government’s 50% stake in Bashneft. The bashneft company was once formed by the transfer of the oil related assets of the Soviet oil ministry in Bashkortostan to the regional government.
$2 mln were given to Ulyukayev under control of law enforcers, news agency Interfax reports with reference to an insider source.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that charges against Ulyukayev are very serious, news agency TASS reports. Vladimir Putin was provided with all the information, the spokesman added.
“Certainly, a report (on Ulyukayev’s detention) has been given to the president, he is aware of it. He was given a report when the investigative activities began, he has been receiving all the information,” Peskov stressed.
In October, Rosneft reported that it bought state-owned shares of Bashneft for 329.7 bn Russian rubles. This amount was expected to go to the state budget. Mr Ulyukayev stated that Rosneft’s offer was the only one that went beyond the consultants’ estimations and ranged between 297-315 bn rubles. According to him, as of September, 30 it exceeded the market value of the shares by 20%.
