# Yukos

> Rusian oil company (1993-2007)

**Wikidata**: [Q835692](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q835692)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukos)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/yukos

## Summary
Yukos was a Russian oil company founded in 1993 and dissolved in 2006. It was a major player in the Russian petroleum industry, owned by oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky and later Roman Abramovich, and was involved in high-profile legal disputes that shaped Russia's energy sector.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 1993
- **Dissolved**: August 1, 2006
- **Primary Industry**: Petroleum industry
- **Key Owners**: Mikhail Khodorkovsky (early years), Roman Abramovich (later)
- **Headquarters**: Moscow
- **Revenue**:
  - 5.86 billion rubles (2000)
  - 2.66 billion rubles (2001)
- **Legal Status**: Dissolved due to corruption allegations and government intervention
- **Successor Company**: Rosneft
- **Related Organizations**: Open Russia (political group), Rosneft (state-controlled successor)
- **Notable Figures**: Ilya Ponomarev (affiliated politician), Svetlana Bakhmina (affiliated lawyer)

## FAQs
- **What was Yukos' primary business?** Yukos was a Russian oil company specializing in the petroleum industry, operating as an enterprise with significant revenue from oil production.
- **Who owned Yukos?** Yukos was initially owned by Mikhail Khodorkovsky before being acquired by Roman Abramovich, a Russian-Israeli oligarch.
- **Why was Yukos dissolved?** Yukos was dissolved in 2006 due to corruption allegations and government intervention, leading to its restructuring into Rosneft.
- **What role did Roman Abramovich play in Yukos?** Roman Abramovich acquired Yukos in 2003, later selling it to Rosneft in 2006, marking a shift in Russia's energy sector ownership.
- **How did Yukos relate to Rosneft?** Rosneft succeeded Yukos after its dissolution, inheriting its assets and operations under state control.
- **What political groups were associated with Yukos?** Yukos was linked to Open Russia, a political organization founded in 2001, reflecting its ties to Russian political elites.

## Why It Matters
Yukos was a pivotal entity in Russia's post-Soviet energy sector, representing the transition from private oligarchic control to state oversight. Its dissolution in 2006 marked a turning point in Russia's energy policy, shifting power from oligarchs to the government. Yukos' legal battles and restructuring set precedents for corporate governance in Russia, influencing how state-controlled energy companies operate today.

## Notable For
- **High-profile legal battles**: Yukos' corruption trials and eventual dissolution reshaped Russia's legal landscape for energy corporations.
- **Ownership shifts**: Yukos' transition from Khodorkovsky to Abramovich to Rosneft illustrated the dynamic of oligarchic influence in Russia's energy sector.
- **State takeover**: Its restructuring into Rosneft demonstrated the government's push for centralized control over Russia's oil industry.

## Body
### History
Yukos was established in 1993 as a Russian oil company, initially owned by Mikhail Khodorkovsky. By 2003, it was acquired by Roman Abramovich, a Russian-Israeli oligarch. The company's operations were marked by significant revenue, peaking at 5.86 billion rubles in 2000. However, Yukos faced corruption allegations and was dissolved on August 1, 2006, leading to its restructuring into Rosneft.

### Industry and Operations
Yukos operated within the petroleum industry, producing goods and services related to oil. Its revenue fluctuated, with notable figures of 5.86 billion rubles in 2000 and 2.66 billion rubles in 2001. The company's dissolution was part of a broader government effort to centralize energy sector control.

### Legal and Political Context
Yukos' legal disputes were central to Russia's energy policy. Its dissolution was driven by corruption allegations, reflecting broader tensions between oligarchs and the state. The case highlighted the challenges of corporate governance in post-Soviet Russia.

### Affiliations and Successors
Yukos was affiliated with Open Russia, a political organization, and Ilya Ponomarev, a Russian-Ukrainian politician. Its successor, Rosneft, inherited its assets and operations, marking a shift to state-controlled energy management.

### Key Figures
- **Mikhail Khodorkovsky**: Founding owner and later political figure.
- **Roman Abramovich**: Acquired Yukos in 2003, later sold it to Rosneft.
- **Ilya Ponomarev**: Politician linked to Yukos' operations.
- **Svetlana Bakhmina**: Lawyer associated with Yukos' legal battles.

### Related Entities
- **Rosneft**: Succeeded Yukos, inheriting its operations and assets.
- **Open Russia**: Political group linked to Yukos' ownership.
- **Russia**: Country where Yukos operated, with its dissolution influencing national energy policy.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Рейтинг крупнейших компаний России по объему реализации продукции. Expert RA](https://raexpert.ru/rankingtable/expert200/1995/main/)
4. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
5. Via P227 lookup with GND value from PM20 folder. 20th Century Press Archives