Pres spox sees Russia’s new economic minister appointed soon

MOSCOW, Nov 23 (PRIME) -- Russia’s new economic development minister can be appointed in a few days, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told PRIME on Wednesday.

“I think you will soon know everything, just in a few days,” he said.

President Vladimir Putin said on Monday there were at least three to four candidates to replace Alexei Ulyukayev as the economic development minister and the new minister will be appointed soon.

Peskov said the number of candidates had decreased.

The Investigative Committee earlier detained Ulyukayev and launched a criminal case on charges of receiving a U.S. $2 million bribe for granting the ministry’s approval that allowed oil major Rosneft to buy the state’s 50.08% stake in Bashneft. The Basmanny District Court put Ulyukayev under house arrest for two months, while Putin dismissed him from the post.

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