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| Russia’s Economy Minister Is Detained on Bribery Charges | Russia’s Economy Minister Is Detained on Bribery Charges |
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| MOSCOW — Russia’s economy minister was detained overnight on charges of soliciting a $2 million bribe in connection with a huge oil deal, the country’s Investigative Committee announced on Tuesday. | MOSCOW — Russia’s economy minister was detained overnight on charges of soliciting a $2 million bribe in connection with a huge oil deal, the country’s Investigative Committee announced on Tuesday. |
| The minister, Alexei Ulyukayev, 60, was the highest-level official arrested in Russia since a failed coup in 1991. He was detained in the middle of the night, a tactic reminiscent of the Soviet era that has not been seen in recent years. | The minister, Alexei Ulyukayev, 60, was the highest-level official arrested in Russia since a failed coup in 1991. He was detained in the middle of the night, a tactic reminiscent of the Soviet era that has not been seen in recent years. |
| Svetlana Petrenko, a spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee, said Mr. Ulyukayev had accepted the $2 million in exchange for his ministry’s endorsement of the sale of part of one government-owned oil company to another, the state oil giant Rosneft. | Svetlana Petrenko, a spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee, said Mr. Ulyukayev had accepted the $2 million in exchange for his ministry’s endorsement of the sale of part of one government-owned oil company to another, the state oil giant Rosneft. |
| “This is about the extortion of a bribe from Rosneft representatives accompanied by threats,” Ms. Petrenko told the RIA Novosti news agency. “Ulyukayev was caught red-handed as he received the bribe.” | “This is about the extortion of a bribe from Rosneft representatives accompanied by threats,” Ms. Petrenko told the RIA Novosti news agency. “Ulyukayev was caught red-handed as he received the bribe.” |
| Although details were still emerging, the accusation seemed to be the most revealing episode yet about a fight within the Kremlin over the direction and control of the ailing economy. Possible scenarios included a swipe at the liberal camp or an indirect assault on Igor I. Sechin, the chairman and chief executive of Rosneft and a confidant of President Vladimir V. Putin. | |
| Mr. Ulyukayev, who is also the minister of economic development, has led the effort to sell off large blocks of key government assets, notably in commodities, in the face of a prolonged recession since 2014. | Mr. Ulyukayev, who is also the minister of economic development, has led the effort to sell off large blocks of key government assets, notably in commodities, in the face of a prolonged recession since 2014. |
| A criminal case was opened against Mr. Ulyukayev on suspicion of soliciting a bribe to endorse the oil deal, according to the Investigative Committee, which reports to Mr. Putin. Investigators said the deal itself was not considered suspicious. | A criminal case was opened against Mr. Ulyukayev on suspicion of soliciting a bribe to endorse the oil deal, according to the Investigative Committee, which reports to Mr. Putin. Investigators said the deal itself was not considered suspicious. |
| Rosneft paid more than $5 billion for half of Bashneft, an oil company that the government had confiscated from an oligarch. Before the sale went forward in October, it prompted some criticism from members of the liberal faction, who said the stake should be sold to the private sector, not to another state firm. | Rosneft paid more than $5 billion for half of Bashneft, an oil company that the government had confiscated from an oligarch. Before the sale went forward in October, it prompted some criticism from members of the liberal faction, who said the stake should be sold to the private sector, not to another state firm. |
| Mr. Putin also expressed surprise over the government’s recommendation that the sale go forward. | Mr. Putin also expressed surprise over the government’s recommendation that the sale go forward. |
| Investigators had been monitoring Mr. Ulyukayev’s telephone calls for months, the news agency Interfax reported, quoting an unidentified law enforcement official. | Investigators had been monitoring Mr. Ulyukayev’s telephone calls for months, the news agency Interfax reported, quoting an unidentified law enforcement official. |
| Dmitri S. Peskov, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, told Russian reporters that “this is a very serious accusation, which calls for very serious evidence.” He said a court would make the ultimate determination about Mr. Ulyukayev’s guilt or innocence. | Dmitri S. Peskov, Mr. Putin’s spokesman, told Russian reporters that “this is a very serious accusation, which calls for very serious evidence.” He said a court would make the ultimate determination about Mr. Ulyukayev’s guilt or innocence. |
| At least three governors have been arrested on bribery charges in the past couple of years as economic problems have mounted, but this is the first time that corruption charges have reached into the Kremlin administration. Analysts have previously said that the campaign to arrest high-level politicians was rooted in fierce competition for illicit gains as the overall pie of the Russian economy shrinks. | At least three governors have been arrested on bribery charges in the past couple of years as economic problems have mounted, but this is the first time that corruption charges have reached into the Kremlin administration. Analysts have previously said that the campaign to arrest high-level politicians was rooted in fierce competition for illicit gains as the overall pie of the Russian economy shrinks. |