Rosneft paid out close to $10 billion late last year to a company controlled by its former president and also to a number of individuals to seize control of Russian assets linked to its huge planned Vostok Oil exploration and development project in East Siberia.
Privately held Russian company Neftegazholding and the unidentified individuals shared in the windfall, Rosneft disclosed in its full-year 2020 financial results, with Neftegazholding also winning control over several of Rosneft's oil-producing subsidiaries for no payment.