Lukoil vice-president Leonid Fedun has said hewill step down from management of the leading Russian independent later thisyear.

Fedun, who owns 10% of Lukoil, said he would move to lessenhis control of the Moscow-based producer.

"A professional team has been created in Lukoil, that'swhy I'm leaving the management board to join the board of directors. This requiresless direct involvement in the company's activity," he told Russiannewspaper Vedomosti.

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