Australian businessman asks Putin to sell Bashneft for $6 billion

Vladimir Dzhamirze, an Australian citizen of Russian origin, has asked Russian president Vladimir Putin to allow him to buy a controlling stake in oil company Bashneft for $6 billion, reported newspaper Vedomosti on Friday.

According to the letter Dzhamirze sent to Putin, his company, Donoylgaz Lighthouse, was founded in Rostov-on-Don in 2013 and raised $10 billion for investment in Russia’s oil and gas industry.

Little is known about Dzhamirze’s previous activity in Russia. Sources, including leaders in Australia’s oil and gas business, told Vedemosti that they had never heard of his company. Another source who is personally familiar with Dzhamirze told Vedemosti that the business man is an acquaintance with Lukoil president Vagit Alekperov.