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Alexei Ulyukayev: Putin's former economy minister found guilty of corruption Alexei Ulyukayev: Putin's ex-economy minister sentenced to eight years in prison colony for accepting bribe
(about 2 hours later)
Russia’s ex-economics minister Alexei Ulyukayev has been found guilty of accepting a bribe, a Moscow judge announced on Friday morning.  Russia’s ex-economics minister Alexei Ulyukayev has been found guilty of accepting a bribe and sentenced to eight years in a prison colony, as well as being fined $2m, a Moscow judge announced on Friday.
Judge Larisa Semenova began reading her verdict at 11.30am local time — aloud in mantra, as is customary in Russia. It may take several hours to come to the full conclusion and understand whether the former cabinet minister will receive a custodial sentence.  Judge Larisa Semenova began reading her verdict at 11.30am — aloud, in a mumbled mantra, as is customary in Russia. Already early in her judgment, it was clear that Mr Ulyukayev would be found guilty; this happens in over 99 per cent of judge-led verdicts in Russia. But it took over two hours to establish that he would be given a such a harsh custodial sentence.
Mr Ulyukayev was responsible for the Russian economy until he was arrested in a sting operation on the night of 15 November 2016, becoming the first cabinet minister to be arrested since the 1950s. His downfall was orchestrated by Rosneft chief Igor Sechin, a powerful associate of Vladimir Putin, who handed the minister a bag containing $2m. Mr Ulyukayev had arrived at the courtroom with a small briefcase, telling reporters that he had prepared for a “long and happy life.” He looked relaxed, laughing and chatting to lawyers with his hands on his hips. He was ready for a “just verdict,” he said, and announced he was writing two books. The year spent under house arrest was “one of the best” of his life: “I’ve slept well, walked. Got rid of my dual personality.”
Mr Ulyukayev insists he understood the bag contained fine wine, and in court repeatedly challenged Mr Sechin to appear for cross-examination. On four occasions, the Rosneft chief refused. The former minister’s demeanour changed once the guilty verdict became clear. His arms moves into his pockets, and his smiles turned to a stare.
The judge mumbled nervously while reading the verdict, outlining the circumstances of the crime. In almost every detail, she sided with the prosecution. On 5 October, at a conference in Goa, Mr Ulyukayev demanded a $2m bribe from Mr Sechin, she said. He repeated the demand in a telephone conversation on 14 November. This did not seem consistent with recordings or transcripts leaked to BBC Russia. Mr Ulyukayev was responsible for the Russian economy until a sting operation before dawn on 15 November last year. His downfall was orchestrated by Rosneft chief Igor Sechin, a powerful associate of Vladimir Putin. After inviting the former minister to his offices, he handed him a basket of sausages and another locked bag, containing $2m. Mr Ulyukayev was stopped by security agents waiting outside, and became the first cabinet minister to be arrested since Stalin’s henchman Lavrenty Beria in 1953.
Last week, prosecutors demanded a harsh 10 year sentence in a prison colony. Mr Ulyukayev, 62, likened this to a “death sentence.”  The former minister insists he believed the bag contained fine wine, and in court challenged Mr Sechin to appear for cross-examination. On four occasions, the Rosneft chief refused.
In his final statement, he insisted on his innocence and compared his case to Stalinist show trials. “Don’t ask for whom the bell tolls,” he said. “It tolls for you.” Today, the judge mumbled through the verdict, somewhat nervously, and often repeating herself. In almost every detail, she sided with Mr Sechin and the prosecution. She was trembling as she read out the sentence.
On 5 October, she agreed, Mr Ulyukayev demanded a $2m bribe from Mr Sechin in Goa, India for approving a controversial privatisation deal. Mr Ulyukayev repeated the demand in a telephone conversation on 14 November, she said — though this did not seem consistent with recordings or transcripts leaked to BBC Russia. The following day, Mr Ulyukayev arrived at Mr Sechin’s office for the cash. Mr Sechin had no ulterior motive, she concluded.
Last week, prosecutors asked for a sentence of 10 years in prison colony. Mr Ulyukayev, 62, and visibly thinner than a year ago, likened this to a “death sentence.” In his final word, Mr Ulyukayev insisted on his innocence and compared his case to Stalinist show trials. “Don’t ask for whom the bell tolls,” he said. “It tolls for you.”
The 8 year custodial sentence will create a huge schism at the heart of power. The trial has already shaken the Russian political elite, with many unsettled by the brazenness of an operation against one of their own. It was accompanied by a war of leaks, as confidential court materials found their way into the possession of liberal journalists. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that the events were “beyond his comprehension.” On the other hand, President Putin was at the very least aware of the sting operation beforehand.
The Kremlin had a difficult balancing act to reach a resolution that would suit all sides. Today’s verdict — siding with Mr Sechin’s somewhat imperfect evidence, and sentencing Mr Ulyukayev to such a severe prison sentence — was not that.