Putin surprised at govt decision to sell Bashneft to Rosneft

MOSCOW, Oct 12 (PRIME) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin is surprised by a government decision to allow state-run oil major Rosneft to buy a state stake in oil company Bashneft, he said on Wednesday.

“You know, it may seem weird to you, I was a bit surprised myself by such a position of the government,” he told a Russia Calling! investment conference.

“But this is really the position of the Russian Federation government, first of all of its economic and financial part.”

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday signed a government ruling allowing Rosneft to buy the state’s 50.075% stake in Bashneft for 329.69 billion rubles before October 14.

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