Former Russian Economy Minister Aleksey Ulyukayev, jailed for 8 years after extorting a $2 million bribe, has begun his sentence at a penal colony, RT reported citing TASS news agency.
Russian Justice Ministry’s Federal Service for Execution of Punishment, that manages the country’s prison system confirmed the reports but did not disclose the location of his detention.
Ulyukayev was detained in November 2016 on charges of receiving a $2 million bribe from the Igor Sechin, the head of Russian state oil firm Rosneft. Investigators found the minister demanded the payment for his support of a positive assessment that would allow Rosneft to complete a deal to purchase the government's stake in another Russian oil company, Bashneft.
The charges were based on Sechin’s testimony as well as on the evidence of a sting operation, in which Sechin personally handed a bag containing $2 million in cash to Ulyukayev, the then-economy minister.
