The CEO of Russian oil giant Rosneft and key witness in a bribery case against a former minister has been summoned to appear in court for the third time.
Former Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev has been under house arrest since his detention last November. He is suspected of demanding $2 million to approve the purchase of the Bashneft oil firm by Rosneft.
Rosneft spokesman Mikhail Leontiev told the state-run TASS news agency that Sechin didn’t show up because he was on a “scheduled business trip.”
Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin skipped two court dates this week despite the court sending him a summons by e-mail, fax and post.
Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky District Court judge ruled to issue a third summons to Sechin to testify at the next hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 22, the news website Mediazona reported.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.