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Lawyer says former economy minister detained illegally

Former Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev was detained on November 14 on suspicion of receiving $2 mln

Alexey Ulyukayev leaving Moscow's Basmanny district court after a hearing Artiom Geodakyan/TASS

Alexey Ulyukayev leaving Moscow's Basmanny district court after a hearing

© Artiom Geodakyan/TASS

MOSCOW, November 28. /TASS/. Former Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, accused of receiving a $2mln bribe, was illegally detained as he left a Rosneft office, his lawyer Timofey Gridnev told the Moscow City Court on Monday.

"Upon his departure from a Rosneft office, the car was blocked by the Federal Security Service members. Then he was under control of the staff and was banned from using means of communication. In fact, Ulyukayev was detained what means his delivery to the bodies of inquiry or investigation, but the FSB members ignored the rules," Gridnev said.

The lawyer noted that Ulyukayev was neither suspect nor defendant and had no procedural status.

On Monday, the Moscow City Court considered a complaint of Ulyukayev’s defense team against the decision of the Basmanny court on his house arrest. The lawyer asked to choose a milder restriction measure not linked to limiting his freedom.

The Moscow City Court upheld the November 15 decision on Ulyukayev’s house arrest, the judge said. The court did not allow the former economy minister to talk to mass media representatives and give an interview. The doctors are not allowed to visit Ulyukayev without the investigator’s permission. Ulyukayev is also banned from going for a walk.

Moscow’s Basmanny district court ruled to place Ulyukayev under house arrest for two months until January 15, 2017.

Ulyukayev was taken into custody on November 14 when he received a $2 mln bribe for approving an endorsement by the ministry that allowed oil major Rosneft to purchase the government’s 50% stake in the Bashneft oil company. Ulyukayev is the first federal minister to be arrested in the history of modern Russia. On November 15, President Vladimir Putin dismissed Ulyukayev from his high-ranking post citing loss of trust.

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