Court gives 8-year sentence to Ulyukaev

Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow has sentenced for eight years in tight security prison and a 130mn-rubles fine to Russia’s former economic development minister Alexey Ulyukaev for large-scale bribe taking. The verdict was pronounced by Judge Larisa Semyonova.

“Despite the fact that he did not plead guilty, his guilt is confirmed by the proofs in the case,” she said. The verdict runs that Ulyukaev misused his office to urge a bribe from Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin for a positive conclusion on purchase of the Bashneft oil company. He had allegedly promised to Sechin to impede the company’s activities in case the latter refused to give the bribe.

The defense has already said it plans to appeal the court decision.

As EADaily reported earlier, the state prosecution said it believes that the former minister’s guilt of receiving the $2mn bribe from Igor Sechin is completely proven. According to the investigation, the reason for the bribe was Ulyukaev’s conclusion that Rosneft was incapable of participating in privatization of Bashneft company. The prosecutor asked for a ten-year sentence for Ulyukaev and a 500-mn rubles fine. The defense insisted upon complete acquittal and taking the witnesses from the prosecution to responsibility for false denunciation.