MOSCOW, April 7 (RAPSI) – Investigators have asked the Basmanny District Court of Moscow to extend the house arrest of former Economy Minister Alexey Ulyukayev, who stands charged with extorting a $2 million bribe, until July 15, the court’s spokesperson Yunona Tsareva told RAPSI on Friday.

The motion will be considered on April 12.

Earlier, the court ordered seizure of Ulyukayev’s property valued at over 564 million rubles ($9.3 million). The ruling has not been appealed, according to the court’s representative.

Ulyukayev was arrested while receiving a bribe in mid-November 2016. He allegedly demanded Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosneft’s representative to pay him $2 million for lawfully providing a positive review and evaluation of a deal that allowed Rosneft to acquire government’s share in mid-sized producer Bashneft. According to the Investigative Committee, the former minister threatened to create obtrusions for Rosneft with use of his position.

Ulyukayev has pleaded not guilty.

On November 15, the ex-minister was put under house arrest.

Later in the evening, President Vladimir Putin has relieved Ulyukayev of his post because of loss of trust.