Ulyukayev's house arrest extended by six months

Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky district court  ruled to extend Russia's former economy minister Alexei Ulyukayev's house arrest by another six months, until  January 27, 2018, the court's press secretary Emilia Khil said.

Today's hearing set the next court date for August 16, when Ulyukayev will be expected to make a formal plea, the AFP reported.

Ulyukayev is the first federal minister to be prosecuted in modern Russia. He is facing up to 15 years in prison and yet, he denies the accusations.

Alexei Ulyukayev was detained on charges of taking a $2-million bribe. The Investigative Committee claims that it has testimony of witnesses, audio and video recordings and "characteristic traces on fingers."