Last Russian independent online media to be sold

Finam's Russian website publised a rumour from anonymous 'reliable source' about information agency Regnum's 25+1% share being sold to 'an investor who has nothing to do with media'. According to Finam the transaction has been already approved at unofficial rate and the agency was in the course of 'Great Four' financial consultancies' evaluation by the moment. The rumour arrowsed much interest considering lack of any more independent media assets in the Russian Internet with Lenta.ru joint with Rambler and Gazeta.ru sold to Gazprom's Kommersant publishing house. However this rumour may appear to be a hint dropped by Regnum's owner to attract probable investors who are now pretty excited about investing to online media on the eve of coming president elections-2008.