IOUGANSKNEFTEGAZ, the main subsidiary in Russian oil company IOUKOS, has been sold at auction to an unknown Russian company, BAIKALFINANSGROUP, which made an offer of 260.75 bn in roubles. The sales began with an offer of 246 bn in roubles and only lasted ten minutes. GAZPROMNEFT, the oil subsidiary of the Russian gas groupie GAZPROM, was the only rival and favourite. The operation surprised observers which suspected IOUGANSKNEFTEGAZ of being a phantom company acting on the behalf of GAZPROM (protecting its interests from the US judiciary or for SOURGOUTNEFTEGAZ, which is close to the Kremlin or a firm that combines the interests of the state, GAZPROM and SOURGOUTNEFTEGAZ..