Alexey Ulyukaev was sentenced to 8 years of strict regime. In April 2018, the case was considered by the Moscow City Court, but the decision remained in effect. Presumably, the ex-minister will be sent to a colony in Irkutsk.
Former Minister of Economic Development Alexei Ulyukaev was sentenced to eight years in a strict regime colony. His guilt in accepting a bribe from the head of Rosneft has been fully proven. The decision was made by judge Larisa Semyonova. Ulyukaev was also sentenced to a fine in the amount of a bribe (130.4 million rubles). He was deprived of the opportunity to work in government agencies for 8 years after his release.
In the additional part of the verdict, there is no indication of the deprivation of the man's awards. The verdict was passed on December 15, 2017. Earlier, the prosecutor Boris Neporozhny asked for the accused ten years in a strict regime colony and the maximum possible fine under the law.
The situation today
The ex-minister is serving a sentence in Moscow. The executive secretary of the POC clarified that there are not many colonies in our country in which high-ranking officials can serve their sentences. Ivan Melnikov suggests that, perhaps, he will be sent to the Irkutsk correctional colony No. 3. It is in it that officials, judges and other officials who were caught taking bribes are serving their sentences. The ex-minister himself wants to serve his sentence near the capital in order to meet more often with his relatives.
2018-12-04 The Moscow City Court upheld the prison term. However, the ban on work in the civil service was lifted. The court considered the appeal for two days, but decided to dismiss it.
During his speech, Ulyukaev asked for an acquittal and the cancellation of the sentence. In his opinion, the verdict is based on the only indirect evidence. At the first hearings, contrary to the norms of the Criminal Code, all doubtful situations were interpreted in favor of the prosecution. Alexey Ulyukaev believes that he has become a victim of provocation by Sechen and FB General Oleg Feoktistov. It was their testimony that became the basis for the sentencing.
Colleagues' opinions
Lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant noted that it is difficult to explain the logic of the court, since there are many open questions in the case. One of them concerns the testimony of a witness who positioned himself as a victim, but did not appear at the trial.
Journalists tried to get an assessment of the current situation from Dmitry Peskov (press secretary of the President of Russia). He confirmed that he was aware of the current situation, but did not comment on the court's decision.
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov still considers Alexei Ulyukayev to be his comrade. He stated this on March 29. He added that the ex-minister is supported by many colleagues, but no one does it publicly. Siluanov became the first high-ranking official to comment on the verdict.
Comments by Alexey Ulyukaev
At the hearing, Alexey thanked his friends, acquaintances and even passers-by who encouraged him while the ex-minister was under house arrest. He says that he is guilty only that:
- made compromises;
- chose easier paths;
- tried to build relationships;
- spun in a bureaucratic round dance.
The ex-minister added that regardless of how his fate develops, he will continue to defend the interests of ordinary citizens. He considers the testimony of Sechin and Feoktistov to be a verdict, and the case itself is the result of a provocation. To demand a bribe, in his opinion, after the completion of the transaction was ridiculous. And all the persecution is connected with Sechin's desire to "eliminate criticism."
In conclusion, we would like to note: after the court proceedings, the state stake in Rosneft was privatized at a lower price, as it was supposed earlier. At the same time, the ex-minister expressed his opinion about the inexpediency of the participation of Rosneft in the privatization of Bashneft as a specialist, and not as a head of the department. Therefore, he did not try in any way to influence the outcome of this case.
