The government has been discussing the sale of state-controlled Svyazinvest for the last three years, but before privatization, amendments have to be made to the law on communications, to protect the government and the military, who are among the company's clients.
"We will hold a meeting with [information technology minister Leonid] Reiman soon. I believe this will take place in December-January," economics minister German Gref said.
"All issues are at the discussions stage. I can't say anything yet," he added.
Svyazinvest combines seven large regional operators, including Uralsvyazinform [RTS: URSI] with 3.6 million subscribers, VolgaTelecom [RTS: NNSI] with 2.4 million subscribers, and Sibirtelecom [RTS: ENCO], with 1.5 million subscribers.
The Russian Federal Property Fund holds 25% minus two shares in Svyazinvest, and the Federal Property Management Agency holds 50% plus one share. The remaining stake is held by Cyprus-based Mustcom Ltd.
The economics minister said he had no information on media reports that Comstar United Telesystems, a private multi-service communications operator integrated in AFK Sistema, Russia's leasing telecoms and services holding company, had acquired a blocking interest in Svyazinvest from Mustcom.
