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Lawmaker says Ulyukayev’s detention will not tarnish Russia’s image

The court will determine the degree of the minister's guilt and render a sentence

Alexei Ulyukayev Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP

Alexei Ulyukayev

© Maxim Shipenkov/Pool Photo via AP

MOSCOW, November 15. /TASS/. Russia’s Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev’s detention on suspicion of bribery will not spoil the country’s image, deputy head of the State Duma (lower house of parliament) Committee for Economic Policy, Industry, Innovative Development and Business Vladimir Getenev told reporters on Tuesday.

"I am sure, what has happened will not spoil Russia’s image, moreover it will enhance the law enforcement agencies’ credibility and help reduce administrative pressure on the country’s businessmen," the MP said.

In his opinion, "the economic development minister’s detention once again demonstrates that there are no untouchable persons at any level governmental level." "The law enforcement agencies have been effectively combating corruption protecting state interests at the federal and regional levels as well as cleaning their own ranks," Gutenes noted.

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He added that "the court will determine the degree of guilt and render a sentence."

"However, there is no doubt that the anti-corruption policy will facilitate the formation of a favorable economic atmosphere so that the Russian businesses could develop," Gutenev concluded.

Earlier on Tuesday, spokesperson for Russia’s Investigative Committee (IC) Svetlana Petrenko said that Ulyukayev had been detained on suspicion of receiving $2 mln for the positive assessment provided by the ministry that allowed Rosneft to purchase the government’s 50% of the Bashneft oil company. Petrenko added that the extortion of the bribe was accompanied by threats against Rosneft representatives.

Petrenko said that the investigators had no questions to ask about the sale of the Bashneft stake proper and that the acquisition of shares was not a subject matter of the investigation.

Ulyukayev is the first federal minister in the history of modern Russia to be detained.

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