The Russian gas giant Gazprom on Saturday denied that it is seeking to acquire assets belonging to the troubled oil giant Yukos, the Interfax news agency quoted Gazprom chief executive Alexei Miller as saying.
"We are not even considering the possibility of taking part in an auction" of Yukos assets, Miller was quoted as saying.
"Concerning Yukos' situation, it is in Gazprom's interests for it to be stable," he added. Gazprom had already denied in July that it could seek to acquire assets of the struggling oil giant, which has been locked in a year-long battle with the Russian government.
Yukos faces a forced state auction of its core production unit, Yuganskneftegaz, following an onslaught by fiscal authorities who are claiming some 7.5 billion dollars (6.25 billion euros) in back taxes.
Gazprom, the world's largest gas producer, said this month that it would acquire the Russian state oil firm Rosneft, a move that will lift Moscow's stake in the gas concern just above the 50-percent threshold.