Dmitry Medvedev has said he will quit his role of chairman of energy giant Gazprom if he is elected president of Russia in March 2008.
"As far as I am aware, any person who becomes head of state has no legal right to retain such a privilege," Medvedev told reporters.
Sergei Sobyanin 49, board chairman of state run Tvel nuclear power, will run his election campaign after he filed his registration at the Central Election Commission to get the ball rolling and announce to the world's waiting media.
Gazprom which provides a large percentage of the worlds energy is still state owned which may change as it looks to be floated on the New York stock exchange soon.
