Businessman Levon Hayrapetyan, defendant in the Bashneft case, does not pled guilty in misappropriation of 700 thsd USD received from ex-senator of Bashkiria Igor Izmestyev's mother, according to RIA Novosti. "I have not committed such crime. I am not guilty," the defendant said after the prosecutor read out the indictment.
According to the investigation, Hayrapetyan mislead the woman promising a softer sentence for her son in exchange for a big amount of money. In fact, Hayrapetyan could not affect the verdict. Another criminal case was initiated against Hayrapetyan. He is charged with complicity in the sale of Bashneft by Ural Rakhimov in April 2009 to AFK Sistema. After a large-scale arbitration process, Bashneft was return to the government. As for misappropriation of 700 thsd USD, Hayrapetyan is facing up to 10 years in prison.
By data of the investigation, Hayrapetyan has dual citizenship and real estate abroad. In particular, he had lived in Monaco for a while. This fact necessitated his pre-trial detention. In early October, the businessman was put under house arrest. Hayrapetyan's lawyer requested his release from custody for serious illness. Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the head of AFK Sistema Board of Directors, is the highest-ranking official under Bashneft case. He was under house arrest at first. Then Yevtushenkov was released on recognizance not to leave. As for the ex-senator of Bashkiria Igor Izmestyev, he was sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism and other heavy crimes.