Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) hears 2016 investment plans from the director of state oil company Rosneft. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Russian President. MOSCOW, April 25 (UPI) — There may be buyers already in place to help privatize some of the largest oil companies in Russia, the country’s first deputy prime minister said. The Kremlin has been reviewing privatization options as the Russian economy risks lingering in recession because of the strains brought on by Western sanctions and low crude oil prices. In March, Deputy Finance Minister Yuri Zubarev said privatizing state oil company Rosneft could bring in up to $6.5 billion to the federal budget. Russian Economic Development Minister Alexei Ulyukayev has said the potential also exists to unload the entire government share in state oil company Bashneft. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov now says possible investors have surfaced for both. The sale of […]