Russian prosecutors have asked a court n December 4, 2017, to send a former economic development minister to a high-security prison for 10 years.
Alexei Ulyukayev was detained in November 2016 at the headquarters of the oil producer Rosneft, after a sting operation by Russia’s main intelligence agency.
Ulyukayev denies the charges and says Rosneft’s influential CEO Igor Sechin has set him up.
A prosecutor in his remarks during cross-examination asked the court to find Ulyukayev guilty of extorting a $2 million bribe from Sechin and send him to a high-security prison for 10 years as well as fining him roughly $8.5 million.
Ulyukayev deserves such a harsh penalty because his actions «are undermining the authority of the government», the prosecutor told the court.
Prosecutors have said Ulyukayev was extorting a bribe from Igor Sechin in return for giving the green light to Rosneft’s purchase of the oil company Bashneft.
BashneftMore:
http://tass.com/economy/978849
The former minister has described himself as a victim of a «provocation» staged by Sechin and security officials.
Sechin has refused to appear as a witness in the trial despite being summoned repeatedly, citing his busy schedule.
Alexei Ulyukayev is the highest-ranking official arrested during Putin's 17 years in power.
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