Prosecutor thinks former econ min Ulyukayev’s guilt established

MOSCOW, Dec 4 (PRIME) – The guilt of former Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev in taking a U.S. $2 million bribe has been established, Prosecutor Boris Neporozhny said during hearings at the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow on Monday.

“During the court hearings, we have studied corresponding evidence,” he said.

He also said that Igor Sechin, CEO of oil major Rosneft and a key witness of prosecution, had no reason to provoke or frame Ulyukayev, and that the former minister’s theory that he had been framed does not stand up to scrutiny.

Ulyukayev, the first government official arrested on suspicions of corruption, allegedly received the $2 million bribe in November 2016 for a positive outlook on privatization of oil company Bashneft by Rosneft. Now, he can face 15 years in prison if his guilt is proved. He pleaded not guilty in August 2017 and said it was a setup organized by Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin and the Federal Security Service.

Previously, Sechin, the key witness of prosecution, failed to come to a court hearing to testify against Ulyukayev for four times, and the court decided not to summon him. Lawyer Daridzhan Kveidze told PRIME it would be impossible for prosecutors and the judge to use previous testimony of Sechin during further court hearings as it was not studied at court.

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