Russian President Vladimir Putin today fired Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, who had been charged with taking a massive bribe, news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.
"Vladimir Putin has published a decree relieving Ulyukayev of his functions," Peskov said, adding that the president had "lost confidence" in the minister.
Ulyukayev had earlier been placed under house arrest for two months over suspicions he pocketed a two-million-dollar payoff during a deal involving state-controlled oil giant Rosneft.
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Russia's Investigative Committee said Ulyukayev had "illegally demanded" payment to approve acquisition by Rosneft of a majority stake in Russian oil company Bashneft from the state, a USD 5.2-billion deal completed last month.
Investigators accused Ulyukayev of "threatening (and) using his ministerial powers to create obstacles to the company's activities in the future".
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