No Proposal From Medvedev to Putin on Ulyukayev's Replacement - Kremlin

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not receive a proposal from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on a new candidacy for Russia's economic development minister after former Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev was caught in the act of taking a $2-million bribe.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet received a proposal from Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on a new candidate for the post of Russia's economic development minister, and no decisions have been made over this issue so far, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

"No," Peskov told reporters when asked whether Putin received the proposal from Medvedev. Peskov added that he did not know whether Russia's Security Council would discuss the candidacy at its traditional meeting on Thursday.

"The president has not taken any decisions over this issue yet," Peskov explained.

Russia's Investigative Committee said on Tuesday that former 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 over a lack of confidence. The ex-minister has not admitted his guilt.