Russia: Rosneft CEO fails to show as witness in bribery trial Igor Sechin, the head of Russian oil giant Rosneft and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, failed to appear as a witness Monday in the bribery trial of former economy minister Alexei Ulyukayev. Ulyukayev was arrested a year ago while still a minister, allegedly caught red-handed taking a $2-million kickback to greenlight state oil giant Rosneft's acquisition of a stake in firm Bashneft. The former minister has accused Sechin of framing him. IMAGES