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Russian government works "normally" despite Ulyukayev’s arrest - official

Head of the Open Government Mikhail Abyzov called lies the rumors about the nervous situation in the government

Mikhail Abyzov Sergey Savostyanov/TASS

Mikhail Abyzov

© Sergey Savostyanov/TASS

MOSCOW, November 19. /TASS/. The Russian government works like always despite the arrest of former Minister of Economic Development Alexei Ulyukayev, head of the Open Government Mikhail Abyzov said on Saturday.

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Kremlin: Economy minister's arrest should not be associated with change in economic policy

"The government is working absolutely normally," he told reporters on the sidelines of the All-Russian Civil Forum. "Of course, we, Ulyukayev’s colleagues, are not happy about the situation, we have taken it very painfully, it is a major shock for the government."

At the same time, he called lies the rumors about the nervous situation in the government and stressed the colleagues at the Ministry of Economic Development are working regardless of what had happened.

Ulyukayev was detained on November 14 the moment he received a $2-million bribe in exchange for the Economic Development Ministry’s consent to give a go-ahead to the oil major Rosneft’s acquisition of a 50.08% stake in another oil company, Bashneft, and was put under house arrest. President Vladimir Putin on November 15 dismissed Ulyukayev from his ministerial job citing loss of confidence.

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