Unfolded between Rosneft and private companies fight for a 50.1% Bashneft has pushed the Kremlin to postpone the privatization of the company and to avoid collisions within the Russian elite before the parliamentary elections, writes Reuters, citing three sources in industry and government.
“One of the reasons for this decision was the desire to avoid confrontation between various powerful factions before the elections”, — told Reuters a source in the company that planned to compete for a stake in Bashneft.
Another interviewee close to the privatisation process, said that the sale “has already caused too much noise, so the delay will allow all to make a break.”
Press Secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin and a government spokesman declined to comment on Reuters the reasons for the transfer the sale of “Bashneft”, and also the probability that it is connected with forthcoming elections in the state Duma.
Representatives of “Bashneft” and “Rosneft” also have refused to comment on the reasons for the transfer transaction.
The impending deal for the sale of state-owned stake of “Bashneft” has caused “confusion and strife between businessmen and officials, as Putin has kept silent about whether he will allow “Rosneft” to qualify [for an oil company],” writes Reuters, citing six sources in the industry. “There were times when it (the silence of Putin) looked like a test for Sechin, and there were times when it was a test for everyone else,” said one of the interlocutors Reuters. “It is clear that the delay of sale — victory [the head of “Rosneft” Igor] Sechin,” — leads the Agency of his word.
