UPDATE 3: Rosneft CEO Sechin fails to come to Ulyukayev court hearing again
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MOSCOW, Nov 27 (PRIME) – Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin did not attend a court hearing to testify against former Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev under a U.S. $2 million bribery case for the fourth time on Monday.
His lawyer Nikolai Klyon said in a letter, “On November 27, Sechin is on a business trip to Italy and cannot attend the court hearing.” According to the statement by Klyon, Sechin has already given a satisfactory testimony and has nothing to add.
Rosneft said in a statement that Sechin is discussing research drilling in the Black Sea with Saipem in Rome.
Lawyer for Ulyukayev Daridzhan Kkveidze pled to return the case to the prosecutor’s office because Ulyukayev was not given a chance to testify against the main witness for prosecution, Sechin. State prosecutors asked the court to turn down the plea.
During the court hearing, Ulyukayev said that he sees Rosneft’s participation in privatization of Bashneft as unproductive but there were no contraindications to that in terms of the legislation.
“I’ve voiced the opinion in interviews with several media that Rosneft cannot participate in privatization of Bashneft. As an expert in economy, I thought then and I think now that participation of companies indirectly controlled by the state in privatization of federal state property is unproductive. It violates the spirit of the privatization law,” Ulyukayev said.
According to Ulyukayev, he did not discuss the deal with Sechin before it was closed. “I have never demanded a bribe from Sechin. Furthermore, I have never threatened him, this was impossible.”
The first conversation on the privatization was held at a BRICS summit on Goa and lasted for no longer than two minutes. “He (Sechin) said, “How nicely we’ve worked on it,” meaning privatization of Bashneft. He said, “I will fetch you some wine you haven’t tried once in your life, you must celebrate this,” Ulyukayev said.
He also said that Sechin hinted at a possibility that Ulyukayev would get a national award.
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 Sechin and the Federal Security Service.
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