Update 16: Putin Defends Yukos Unit Sale to State Co.
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MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin delivered a tough defense Thursday of the secretive transfer of the crumbling Yukos oil empire&#39;s most lucrative fields to a state company, adding acidly that a US judge who sought to block the sale most likely couldn&#39;t
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Description: Russian officials make it clear they plan to proceed with an auction of oil company Yukos&#39; main production unit, despite a restraining order from a US court.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin said state-run companies may bid for OAO Yukos Oil Co. assets in any sale to collect back taxes, raising the prospect of further government control over the nation&#39;s oil and gas industry.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday strongly defended the takeover by state oil firm Rosneft of stricken oil major YUKOS&#39;s key production unit, Yuganskneftegaz, saying it was a legitimate business deal.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin Thursday strongly defended the takeover by state oil firm Rosneft of stricken oil major YUKOS's key production unit, Yuganskneftegaz, saying it was a legitimate business deal.
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MOSCOW : Russia does not aim to nationalise embattled oil giant Yukos but state firms could bid for assets of the company if they are sold to pay off the company&#39;s multi-billion-dollar tax debts, President Vladimir Putin said.
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President Vladimir Putin said on Friday Russian state firms should be allowed to buy assets of oil major YUKOS (YUKO.RTS: Quote, Profile, Research) if they are put up for sale to cover the firm&#39;s huge back tax bill.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin is winning support for his plan to ease restrictions on foreign ownership of OAO Gazprom, the nation&#39;s largest gas producer.
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President Vladimir Putin affirmed the legality of the &#36;9.3 billion sale of the crown jewel of the Yukos oil empire to a mysterious company, suggesting Tuesday that the subsidiary's new owners could eventually link up with another Russian energy company &#151; or even a Chinese conglomerate.
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President Vladimir Putin gave his blessing on Friday for Russian state energy firms to bid for oil major Yukos&#39;s assets if bailiffs put them up for sale to recover a huge back-tax bill.
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Russian oil major YUKOS denied on Wednesday reports it planned to sell its Lithuanian refinery Mazeikiu Nafta to help cover its huge back tax bill.
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Russia's President Putin denies claims that Russia is using its energy exports as a foreign policy tool.
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the main production unit of beleaguered Yukos. The oil giant insists the auction is state-sponsored theft and claims it is the victim of a Kremlin vendetta.
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Russia's President Putin says the purchase of Yukos' main asset by state-owned oil firm Rosneft was in line with free market principles.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin on  Thursday strongly defended the takeover by state oil firm  Rosneft of stricken oil major YUKOS's key production unit,  Yuganskneftegaz, calling it a legitimate business deal.
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Russia&#39;s Federal Property Fund said Friday it will go ahead with an auction of the embattled Yukos oil giant&#39;s major unit Yuganskneftegaz despite a US court decision to halt the sale, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin  Thursday strongly defended the takeover by state oil firm  Rosneft of stricken oil major YUKOS's key production unit,  Yuganskneftegaz, saying it was a legitimate business deal.