Russian prosecutors call for 10-year sentence for ex-economy minister

MOSCOW: Russian prosecutors on Monday called for a 10-year prison sentence for former economy minister Alexei Ulyukayev who is accused of extorting a $2 million bribe from a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.

"I ask you to find Alexei Ulyukayev guilty," prosecutor Boris Neporozhny said in a Moscow court, asking for a 10-year prison sentence and a fine of 500 million rubles ($8.5 million).

"The guilt of the defendant in receiving a bribe is completely proven."

Ulyukayev was arrested last year while still a minister, allegedly caught red-handed in a sting operation to greenlight the acquisition by state oil giant Rosneft of a stake in oil company Bashneft.

He is the highest-ranking official arrested during Putin's 17 years in power.

Prosecutor Neporozhny accused Ulyukayev, who has spoken out against state intervention in the economy, of extorting $2 million from Rosneft chief Igor Sechin, who is a confidante of Putin, and is considered by many to be the second-most powerful man in Russia.

Sechin has refused to appear as a witness in the trial despite being summoned repeatedly, citing his busy schedule.

Ulyukayev has denied the charges, saying he has been framed. He says he accepted a basket from Sechin which he thought contained other gifts.

Neporozhny accused the former economy minister of showing Sechin two fingers in an apparent code for $2 million.

"You personally took the bag with $2 million intended as a bribe," he said, adding that the former minister "tried to present himself as a victim of a provocation."