Rosneft CEO Sechin says U.S. sanctions on company are illegal

By Alexei Anishchuk BRASILIA (Reuters) - Rosneft Oil Co Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin said on Wednesday that U.S. sanctions on the Russian state-controlled energy company are illegal because it has no role in the crisis in Ukraine. Sechin said the sanctions will damage the interests of shareholders of U.S. companies and banks working with Rosneft, though they would have no impact on joint projects that Rosneft currently has with Exxon Mobil Corp in Russia. Due to what it views as Russia's interference in its neighbour Ukraine, the U.S. government on Wednesday imposed its most wide-ranging sanctions yet on the Russian economy, including Rosneft, Gazprombank and other major banks and energy and defense companies. Read More http://ift.tt/1ny7qTf