Related News
Russian minister charged with extorting bribe worth US$2m
Print Edition
RUSSIAN investigators yesterday charged Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev with extorting a US$2 million bribe from Rosneft, Russia’s biggest oil company.
Ulyukayev, a 60-year-old technocrat whose ministry has been overseeing a sale of state assets, is the highest-ranking Russian official to be detained while in office since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
He faces up to 15 years in jail if found guilty.
The Investigative Committee, the state agency that investigates major crimes, said Ulyukayev had extorted the bribe in exchange for approving Rosneft’s US$5 billion purchase of a stake in mid-sized oil producer Bashneft.
His detention was announced in the early hours yesterday, with state TV and pro-Kremlin politicians presenting it as part of a high-profile fight against corruption.
Others said it was evidence of infighting at the highest levels, possibly involving Igor Sechin, the chief of Rosneft, a close Putin lieutenant who is one of Russia’s most powerful men, and might herald a shake-up.
Low oil prices and Western sanctions mean the government is struggling to plug holes in the state budget ahead of a 2018 presidential election, and that competition for resources inside the tightly-controlled system has become more acute.
Law enforcement sources told Russian media the minister’s phones had been tapped and his electronic communications monitored. Investigators set up a sting operation in which the alleged bribe was handed over on Monday, the reports said.
Investigators said Ulyukayev had threatened to use his position to cause problems for Rosneft unless it paid him.
They said they were not challenging the legality of Rosneft’s purchase of the Bashneft stake or investigating it.
Putin was informed about the case when the investigation was first launched, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “These are serious allegations,” Peskov said. “Only a court can deliver a verdict.”
Rosneft’s acquisition of Bashneft last month was the focus of a major turf war between rival Kremlin camps, sources close to the deal and in the government have said.
Sechin lobbied hard for the green light to buy Bashneft, but the deal was fiercely opposed by economic liberals in the government, some with ties to Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, who believed Bashneft should go to private investors.
Ulyukayev initially opposed Rosneft buying Bashneft, one of the most lucrative state assets to be privatized in years, but eventually signed off on the deal.
A 19.5 percent state-owned stake in Rosneft is up for privatization next. Rosneft is poised to buy the stake itself to sell on to investors later.
Sources said last week that Rosneft’s parent holding company may help Rosneft with funds for the deal.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
