Russian investigator: Econ Minister Ulyukayev denies he is guilty

Russian Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev who was detained by law enforcement officials on corruption charges, is escorted upon his arrival for a hearing at the Basmanny district court in Moscow, Russia, November 15, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian Economy Minister Alexei Ulyukayev has denied he is guilty of receiving bribes, a Russian investigator told a court on Tuesday. Ulyukayev was detained overnight and charged with extorting a $2 million bribe from Rosneft, Russia's biggest oil company, in a case that threatens to expose fault lines in President Vladimir Putin's inner circle. (Reporting by Svetlana Reiter; Writing by Jack Stubbs; Editing by Vladimir Soldatkin)