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Court refuses to summon Rosneft CEO for fifth time for questioning in ex-minister case

Ulyukayev’s defense requested to summon Sechin for questioning

Rosneft CEO Igor Sechi Piotr Kovalev/TASS

Rosneft CEO Igor Sechi

© Piotr Kovalev/TASS

MOSCOW, November 28. /TASS/. Zamoskvoretsky Court of Moscow refused to summon Chief Executive of Russian oil producer Rosneft Igor Sechin for questioning in $2 mln bribe case of ex-economy minister Alexey Ulyukayev.

"Satisfaction of defense’s petition to summon Sechin to court is denied," Judge Larisa Semenova said.

Ulyukayev’s defense requested to summon Sechin for questioning for fifth time. "We request the court four times to call Sechin and we interrogated Ulyukayev without waiting for him. His interrogation is a matter of utmost importance for us and we ask the court to summon him," Ulyukayev’s counsel Timofey Gridnev said.

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Ex-minister Ulyukaev brands Rosneft CEO's $2 mln 'transfer' a complete 'set-up'

"The court completed the judicial investigation and passes to hearing of arguments," Judge Larisa Semenova said. The hearing of arguments will start at 11.00 am Moscow time on December 4.

Ulyukayev, the then federal minister, was detained on November 14, 2016, which was the first detention of a senior government official in Russia’s modern history. He is facing charges of large-scale bribe taking by a government official (Part 6, Section 290 of the Russian Criminal Code).

According to the Russian Investigative Committee, Ulyukayev was detained while taking a $2 mln bribe for the ministry’s positive opinion about Rosneft’s purchase of a 50.08% stake in oil producer Bashneft. Moreover, according to investigators, the former minister is charged with bribe extortion through threats to Rosneft representatives.

In November 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin relieved Ulyukayev off his duties over the loss of trust. The former minister is under house arrest.

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