Djedovic Handanovic: Russian shareholders in NIS in talks with several companies, Serbia involved

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic said on Thursday Russian shareholders in the Serbian oil company NIS had been in talks with several companies for weeks now and that the Serbian state leadership was involved in the negotiations.

"It is not professional to talk publicly while negotiations are underway, and the Serbian state leadership is involved in every detail of these negotiations," Djedovic Handanovic posted on Instagram.

"Those who sold NIS in 2008 now say some foreigners will use our money to buy the Russian shares in NIS," she added, noting that this was a case of "petty politics."

NIS is under US sanctions and talks about a sale of the Russian stake in the company are underway.