Russia is contemplating a merger of its major oil companies, potentially creating the world's second-largest crude producer. However, Rosneft, the state-backed oil giant, has publicly denied reports suggesting that CEO Igor Sechin is spearheading this initiative. The company dismissed these claims, referring to Sechin sarcastically as 'evil Sechin' and asserting that any plans for a merger have been thwarted. This comes amid discussions led by Energy Minister Sergey Tsivilev, who is related to President Vladimir Putin, to consolidate oversight of Rosneft and nationalize Lukoil. Despite these discussions, President Putin has not approved the merger proposal. The situation has been characterized by skepticism from Rosneft, which has downplayed the seriousness of the merger reports, suggesting that internal opposition from oil companies is a significant barrier to the initiative.