Russian ex
Alexei Ulyukayev
Former Russian economy minister Alexei Ulyukayev   accused of taking a $ 2 million bribe from Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin    told a court on Thursday  he  was the victim of “ a monstrous and cruel provocation .” Russian former Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev   who was charged with accepting a bribe   is escorted by bailiffs after a court hearing in Moscow   Russia December 4   2017 . REUTERS / Maxim Shemetov State prosecutors said the bribe was given last year on Nov . 14 in exchange for  Ulyukayev  approving the sale of state - controlled oil company Bashneft to Rosneft . He says he thought the bag holding the bribe was a gift of expensive alcohol . “ A monstrous and cruel provocation was carried out against me  ”  Ulyukayev  told the court in  his  final statement before  it  hands down a verdict on Dec . 15 . “ This trial has aroused public interest similar to that of a circus  ”  he  added . “ The charges are absurd   the evidence is absurd   and at its base lies the cruelty and impunity of the provocateur .” Rosneft head Sechin   a witness in the trial and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin   has not appeared in court   citing work commitments . Russian prosecutors earlier this month sought a sentence of 10 years in jail for Ulyukayev .
[TGT]accused of taking a $ 2 million bribe from Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin    told a court on Thursday  [TGT]  was the victim of “ a monstrous and cruel provocation .” Russian former Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev   who was charged with accepting a bribe   is escorted by bailiffs after a court hearing in Moscow   Russia December 4   2017 . REUTERS / Maxim Shemetov State prosecutors said the bribe was given last year on Nov . 14 in exchange for  Ulyukayev  approving the sale of state - controlled oil company Bashneft to Rosneft . He says he thought the bag holding the bribe was a gift of expensive alcohol . “ A monstrous and cruel provocation was carried out against me  ”  [TGT]told the court in  [TGT]  final statement before [TGT][TGT]  hands down a verdict on Dec . 15 . “ This trial has aroused public interest similar to that of a circus  ”  he  added . “ The charges are absurd   the evidence is absurd   and at its base lies the cruelty and impunity of the provocateur .” Rosneft head Sechin   a witness in the trial and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin   has not appeared in court   citing work commitments . Russian prosecutors earlier this month sought a sentence of 10 years in jail for [TGT] .