Up to Eight Officials Could Be Implicated in Ex-Russian Minister Bribery Case

The case of former Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, charged with bribery and extortion, could involve up to eight people more.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Up to eight additional officials could be implicated in a bribery case involving Russia's former Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev, a law enforcement source told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

"Most likely in the near future, more different officials will be involved in this criminal case… As of now we are talking about the involvement of up to eight new people," the source said.

Russia's Investigative Committee said on Tuesday that 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 the Bashneft oil company.

Ulyukayev has been charged with taking an especially large bribe and extortion, and placed under house arrest until January 15. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Ulyukayev from the post of economy minister on grounds of lack of confidence.