The deal was strongly appreciated by the investment community for the expansion of the Combined Company to the new crude oil and petroleum product production and supply areas, Rosneft adding 10% of liquid hydrocarbon production and 20% of refining throughput as well as for significant synergies arising from optimization of mutual oil supplies, transport and logistics costs, drilling cost reduction and joint use of production assets’ infrastructure, modern technologies and know-how.

Despite unfavourable market conditions and a negative impact of the tax manoeuvre, in the second quarter of 2015, the Company achieved a considerable improvement in its financial results. Revenue from sales gained 6.9% compared to the first quarter of 2015; adjusted EBITDA increased by 34.1%, while operating income jumped by 44.4%. In the second quarter of 2015, net income excluding minority interest was 57.2% higher than in the first quarter of 2015 and 12.9% higher than in the second quarter of 2014.

Shares in Vladimir Yevtushenkov’s Sistema Group fell more than 35 per cent this week, amid growing concern that Russian investigators will try to reclaim Rbs140bn ($2.7bn) in dividends that the group has received from its oil company Bashneft .

Russia may be slow to react to economic issues because Putin is preoccupied with foreign policy and Medvedev, a former corporate lawyer, has become indecisive, two officials said.

Asian companies will replace Western majors if they quit energy projects in Russia due to sanctions over Moscow's role in Ukraine,

Russian oligarch Yevtushenkov placed under house arrest

Bashneft signs PSC for Block ЕР-4 in Myanmar

Bashneft Readies $1 Billion Share Sale in Moscow or London