title: Russian ex-minister Ulyukayev: I am victim of 'monstrous set up'
text: MOSCOW (Reuters) - Former Russian economy minister Alexei Ulyukayev, accused of taking a $2 million bribe from Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin, told a court on Thursday he was the victim of  a monstrous and cruel provocation.  State prosecutors said the bribe was given last year on Nov. 14 in exchange for Ulyukayev approving the sale of state-controlled oil company Bashneft to Rosneft. Ulyukayev denies the charges. He says he thought the bag holding the bribe was a gift of expensive alcohol.  A monstrous and cruel provocation was carried out against me,  Ulyukayev told the court in his final statement before it hands down a verdict on Dec. 15.  This trial has aroused public interest similar to that of  a circus,  he added.  The charges are absurd, the evidence is absurd, and at its base lies the cruelty and impunity of the provocateur.  Rosneft head Sechin, a witness in the trial and a close ally of President Vladimir Putin, has not appeared in court, citing work commitments. Russian prosecutors earlier this month sought a sentence of 10 years in jail for Ulyukayev. 