MOSCOW, November 15. /TASS/. Charges against Russian Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev are very serious, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"These are very serious charges that require very serious evidence," Peskov said. "In any case, only the court can decide anything. It is known that the court does not always agree with investigators, and vice versa," he reminded.

"It's nighttime. I don't know whether this has been reported to the president," Peskov said.

Earlier today IC spokesperson Svetlana Petrenko said that the Investigative Committee detained Economic Development Minister Alexey Ulyukayev on suspicion of receiving $2 million for the positive assessment provided by the ministry that allowed Rosneft to purchase the government’s 50% stake in Bashneft. She added that investigators plan to indict Ulyukayev soon and petition the measure of restraint.