MOSCOW, April 26 (RAPSI, Yevgeniya Sokolova) – The Moscow City Court has upheld extension of house arrest for Russian Economy ex-minister Alexey Ulyukayev, who stands charged with extorting a $2 million bribe, RAPSI reports from the courtroom on Wednesday.

The court, however, allowed Ulyukayev to leave his place of residence in a "period from 7 to 9 o’clock".

On April 12, the Basmanny District Court granted a motion filed by investigators seeking extension of Ulyukayev’s house arrest until mid-July.

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.