A Moscow court has found Russia’s former Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev guilty of bribery.

He is the first minister to stand trial in Russia’s recent history.

Ulyukayev was arrested in 2016, accused of trying to extort $2m (£1.5m) from state oil firm Rosneft to green light its purchase of another oil firm.

The accusation was made by Rosneft boss Igor Sechin, who is also one of President Vladimir Putin’s closest aides.

Mr Sechin was asked to testify but did not turn up.

Ulyukayev had denied the charges and alleged that he was framed.

The verdict read out by the judge said Ulyukayev had “made use of his position in order to demand from Rosneft chief Sechin a bribe, in exchange for giving approval” for the purchase of state-owned Bashneft.

“At the same time he told Sechin he would in future obstruct the company’s activities if it rebuffed him,” the verdict said.

Oleg Feoktistov, a former secret service officer who worked for Mr Sechin, testified that the bribery took place on the sidelines of a Brics forum in Goa, India. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa form the Brics group.

“Using two fingers he indicated the sum he wanted to receive, which was equivalent to two million dollars,” Mr Feoktistov said, citing what Mr Sechin had told him.

Kremlin tensions

Before being prosecuted, Ulyukayev was an influential liberal in the Russian elite, but not part of President Putin’s inner circle.

Mr Sechin’s close ties to Mr Putin go back to the Soviet era, when they were both KGB secret service officers.

BBC Russian reports that the case has highlighted rivalries at the apex of Russian politics.

Mr Sechin’s version of events prevailed – even though he did not testify – and inconsistencies have emerged in the case against Ulyukayev, BBC Russian reporter Sergei Goryashko says.

Ulyukayev insisted he was innocent, saying he had no idea the bag given to him by Mr Sechin contained money.

He said he thought it was expensive wine which, allegedly, Mr Sechin often presents to business partners along with speciality sausages, as gifts.