MOSCOW, November 27 (RAPSI) – Russia’s economy ex-minister Alexey Ulyukayev, who stands trial on bribery charges, has accused CEO of the country’s largest oil corporation Rosneft, Igor Sechin, of perjury, RAPSI correspondent reports from the Zamoskvoretsky District Court of Moscow on Monday.

Ulyukayev claims that he did not know about $2 million in a bag given to him by Sechin. When he was asked about contents of the bag by a prosecutor, Ulyukayev said: “His testimony is false, and I speak the truth.”

On Monday, the court heard testimony of the defendant. Ulyukayev spoke about privatization of Basneft company and involvement of Rosneft in the deal as well as his meeting with Sechin, and a bag.

Earlier today, the court dismissed a motion to return the case to prosecutors. According to Ulyukayev’s defense, several provisions of the Criminal Procedure Code have been violated during pretrial investigation. There is the lack of such facts as location, time and way of crime in the indictment; moreover, case papers contain different dates of alleged extortion of bribes by Ulyukayev from Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin, Ulyukayev’s lawyer Daredzhan Kveidze said.

Ulyukayev stands charged with taking $2 million in bribes. He was arrested while receiving an alleged bribe in mid-November 2016. According to the Investigative Committee, the former minister threatened to create obtrusions for Rosneft with the use of his position. On November 15, 2016, the ex-minister was put under house arrest. Later in the evening, President Vladimir Putin relieved Ulyukayev of his post because of loss of trust.

Ulyukayev pleaded not guilty and stated that he believed the case was fabricated. The defendant noted that there was a provocation, orchestrated by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and that there was no sound evidence in the case, aside from a testimony provided by Sechin.

The court has seized 15 property items and over 564 million rubles ($9.5 million) belonging to Ulyukayev as part of the case.