Igor Sechin, head of Russia's leading oil company Rosneft, said Thursday that sanctions imposed by Washington on him over Russia's actions in Ukraine had failed to hinder his work with U.S. partners and did not affect him personally.
Saying he had no accounts or property in the U.S., Sechin told reporters that the sanctions "have a theoretical character for me personally. We will continue to work and this has no impact on our work with American partners. We appreciate the cooperation."
Sechin also said Rosneft had not initiated a push to privatize a stake in the company, but would go along with it if the government so wished, hinting at his dissatisfaction at reports that Russia could sell 19.5 percent of the oil producer.
"First of all, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we do not comment on statements from federal officials … but we are ready to fulfill any directive," he said in Russia's eastern city of Blagoveshensk.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
