Rustem Khamitov, president of Russia's internal Republic of Bashkortostan, said on Oct. 21 it was unlikely that Russian oil major Rosneft will offer to buy its 25% stake in Bashneft.

Khamitov told reporters that Rosneft's emergence as a Bashneft shareholder through a privatization deal in October was positive and that Bashkortostan and the oil major were discussing the possibility of sharing administration of Bashneft, which is a mid-sized producer.