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Russian ex-minister Ulyukayev gets eight years for bribery | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Moscow court has sentenced Russia's former Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev to eight years in a labour camp for bribery. | |
He was also fined 130m roubles ($2.2m; £1.6m). He is the first minister to stand trial in Russia's recent history. | |
Ulyukayev was arrested in 2016, accused of trying to extort $2m from state oil firm Rosneft to approve its purchase of another oil firm. | |
He was accused by the Rosneft boss, who is close to President Vladimir Putin. | |
Rosneft boss Igor Sechin was asked to testify but did not turn up. | |
Ulyukayev had denied the charges and alleged he was framed. | |
The verdict read out by the judge said Ulyukayev had "made use of his position in order to demand from Rosneft chief Sechin a bribe, in exchange for giving approval" for the purchase of state-owned Bashneft. | The verdict read out by the judge said Ulyukayev had "made use of his position in order to demand from Rosneft chief Sechin a bribe, in exchange for giving approval" for the purchase of state-owned Bashneft. |
"At the same time he told Sechin he would in future obstruct the company's activities if it rebuffed him," the verdict added. | |
Oleg Feoktistov, a former secret service officer who worked for Mr Sechin, testified that the bribery had taken place on the sidelines of a Brics forum in Goa, India. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa form the Brics group. | |
"Using two fingers he indicated the sum he wanted to receive, which was equivalent to two million dollars," Mr Feoktistov said, citing what Mr Sechin had told him. | "Using two fingers he indicated the sum he wanted to receive, which was equivalent to two million dollars," Mr Feoktistov said, citing what Mr Sechin had told him. |
Kremlin tensions | Kremlin tensions |
Before being prosecuted, Ulyukayev was an influential liberal in the Russian elite but not part of President Putin's inner circle. | |
Mr Sechin's close ties to Mr Putin go back to the Soviet era, when they were both KGB secret service officers. | Mr Sechin's close ties to Mr Putin go back to the Soviet era, when they were both KGB secret service officers. |
The case has highlighted rivalries at the apex of Russian politics, BBC Russian reports. | |
Mr Sechin's version of events prevailed and inconsistencies have emerged in the case against Ulyukayev, BBC Russian reporter Sergei Goryashko says. | |
Ulyukayev insisted he was innocent, saying he had no idea the bag given to him by Mr Sechin contained money. | Ulyukayev insisted he was innocent, saying he had no idea the bag given to him by Mr Sechin contained money. |
He said he thought it was expensive wine which, allegedly, Mr Sechin often presents to business partners along with speciality sausages, as gifts. | He said he thought it was expensive wine which, allegedly, Mr Sechin often presents to business partners along with speciality sausages, as gifts. |