Putin signs decree to fire 'bribery-taking' Economy Minister

(Baonghean.vn) - TASS reported that according to the Russian court's ruling, the country's Minister of Economy will be placed under house arrest and forced to wear a monitor on his ankle.

Economy Minister Aleksey Ulyukayev. Photo: TASS.

The Kremlin press service said on November 15 that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree to remove Aleksey Ulyukayev from his position as Minister of Economic Development due to "loss of trust".

Russian Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko previously said that Ulyukayev was arrested on the evening of November 14 while he was receiving a $2 million bribe in exchange for a positive assessment by the Ministry of Economy, allowing oil giant Rosneft to buy a 50.08% stake in the Bashneft oil company from the state. Petrenko added that the bribery was accompanied by threatening words towards Rosneft representatives.

However, Petrenko said that investigators did not question the sale of Bashneft shares, and that the purchase was not the subject of the investigation.

Ulyukayev was charged under Article 290, Part 6 of the Russian Criminal Code (accepting a bribe). The Basmanny District Court of Moscow ordered him to remain under house arrest until January 15./.

Thu Giang

(According to TASS)