Sechin said in his testimony that Ulyukayev had asked for the bribe during a game of billiards at a summit in India. There was little evidence in the case except Sechin’s testimony, and he refused to show up at court despite receiving several summons. The case has widely been seen as Sechin’s revenge for Ulyukayev opposing Rosneft’s takeover of another oil company. While Russian courts rarely give innocent verdicts, many were expecting a suspended sentence as a compromise. The harsh sentence sent shockwaves through the more liberal parts of the Russian elite.

Source: The Guardian December 15, 2017 13:18 UTC