Alfa not interested in government stake in TeliaSonera, says head

Contrary to recent reports in the Russian and Swedish press, Alfa Group is not interested in a Swedish government-owned stake in TeliaSonera, Mikhail Fridman, the head and major shareholder of the Russian holding group, told Russian news service Interfax. ‘We aren’t interested so far,’ he said in answer to a question about possible talks on the issue with Swedish Finance Minister Mats Odell during a visit by a Swedish delegation to Moscow this week. Fridman said that there are no meetings or talks planned with the Swedish delegation during the visit. Stories citing government officials report that Alfa Group has made an offer to swap a number of its telecoms assets for the Swedish government’s 37.3% stake in the Scandinavian communications group.