On April 28, Russia’s Transport Ministry opposed transfer of 20% share of Novorossijsk Commercial Seaport to RZD OJSC, hence the deal was suspended, Vedomosti reports according to Polit.Ru. According to the Ministry it is not reasonable to take the only southern seaport out of state control.
Late in 2006, Russian Railways asked Rosimushchestvo (Russian Federal Property Management Agency) for transferal of the title for 20% of the stock of Novorossijsk Commercial Seaport. The monopoly explained the initiative with the intent to influence freight tariffs via its representative in the Board of Directors. Rosimushchestvo supported the idea and in February 2007 RZD got 16.5% of Novorossijsk Commercial Seaport.