Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was considering several candidates to fill the position of the minister of economic development after its former holder, Alexei Ulyukayev, was put under house arrest.
"There are, of course candidates, we have recently discussed them with the head of state and several other members of the government. There are at least 3-4 contenders," Putin told reporters on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Lima, adding he would settle the issue as soon as he was back in Moscow.
Although Putin says he can’t comment on Ulyukayev case before law enforcement agencies, judicial system, he said that such actions of law enforcers “only strengthen business climate in Russia” and all should know that “the law will be applied to everyone equally”.
Putin also strongly defended his economic policy and rest of the team.
“The government has always been under special public attention, each step of the government is being analyzed. We all do not work without mistakes, probably, the government could have done some things faster, but, in general, it is working effectively given the difficult conditions we have to operate within,” RT cited Putin as saying.
The “regrettable” detention of Ulyukayev, “has not affected my attitude to government in general,” Putin said, adding that he plans to move forward with the privatization of state assets.
“This sad event can’t influence in any way the acquisition of Bashneft stake by Rosneft”, Bloomberg cited him as saying. Russia will not abandon plans to sell Rosneft stake as well.
“This will be a direct privatization of state assets”, Putin said. The government and management will work on selling the state stake in Rosneft, he said.
Russia's Investigative Committee said on Tuesday that the Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev was caught in the act of taking a $2-million bribe for a positive appraisal that allowed Russian energy company Rosneft to buy the state's shares of Bashneft oil company. Ulyukayev has been charged with taking an especially large bribe and extortion, and placed under house arrest until January 15. Putin has dismissed Ulyukayev from the post of economy minister citing lack of confidence.
