Gazprom, the state-backed gas monopoly, yesterday revealed it had sold Gazpromneft, a holding structure that took part in a Yukos auction to safeguard it from legal action that may arise from a US court order.

Sergei Kupriyanov, a spokesman for Gazprom, said Gazpromneft was sold last Friday - two days before the auction - to a structure not affiliated with Gazprom.