Russian President Dmitry Medvedev instructed the government to introduce Rosneft oil company Acting President Eduard Khudainatov for the position of the company's president, Medvedev's press secretary Natalya Timakova said on Saturday.

On Friday Khudainatov was appointed as acting president of Russia's top state-run oil company Rosneft.

Khudainatov used to be the company's first vice president, Rosneft said in a statement.

A contract with the company's former President Sergei Bogdanchikov expired on June 29 and rumors have said it will not be resumed. But Bogdanchikov rejected the rumours earlier this week.

A Rosneft spokesman told RIA Novosti news agency that Bogdanchikov was on a business trip, which caused the necessity of appointing acting president.

But a Rosneft source said that Bogdanchikov was on holiday from Friday.

Rumors about Bogdanchikov's resignation appeared on the market in summer 2009 following an amendment to the company's charter, which said the president may be appointed by the board of directors and not by a shareholders' meeting.

Deputy Energy Minister and former Rosneft employee Sergei Kudryashov, Khudainatov and Rosneft First Vice President Pavel Fedorov are mentioned as Bogdanchikov's possible successors.

GORKI, September 4 (RIA Novosti)