Head of Lukoil's Structural Division Arrested in Russia

In Russia, the Basmanny Court has allowed the arrest of Alexey Stepanov, the head of one of the structural divisions of Lukoil PJSC, who is accused of corruption crimes.

“The court has granted the request of the investigative bodies to select a preventive measure in the form of detention for Alexey Alexandrovich Stepanov, the head of one of the structural divisions of Lukoil PJSC, until June 2,” the court's press service reported.

The court clarified that Stepanov had been in charge of Lukoil’s customs cooperation department.

The court also placed under house arrest Alexey Akimov, the deputy head of the energy customs department of the Central Energy Customs of the Federal Customs Service of Russia, along with other individuals.

Details of the charges were not disclosed in court. Meanwhile, an informed source clarified to Interfax that the defendants in the case were detained on April 3. They are accused of committing corruption crimes since the beginning of last year regarding the illegal acquisition of data related to the foreign trade activities of oil-refining companies, which are legally protected tax secrets.