Russian economy minister charged over US$2m bribe

Moscow

RUSSIA charged Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev on Tuesday over suspicions that he pocketed a US$2 million pay-off during a deal involving state-controlled oil giant Rosneft.

Ulyukayev was the highest ranking official to be detained over suspected corruption since President Vladimir Putin took power in 2000 and vowed to clamp down on endemic graft.

The 60-year-old minister's detention has sparked a wave of speculation over whether the charges could be linked to an internal power struggle.

Russia's Investigative Committee said that Ulyukayev had "illegally demanded" payment to give his go-ahead for Rosneft to acquire a majority stake from the state in Russian oil company Bashneft in a US$5.2 billion deal last mont…