Whether investing in China, Venezuela or Iraq, Russian oil giant Rosneft closely follows Moscow's geopolitical interests as the Kremlin-controlled company seeks to expand its nation's influence, at times in unstable countries.

Headed by Vladimir Putin's ally Igor Sechin, Rosneft grew massively by acquiring the assets of Yukos oil company, whose founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky spent a decade in jail on charges widely seen as punishment for his political ambitions.

Rosneft has since grown into a global oil giant with an output of over 5 million barrels per day and a net worth of almost $50 billion.

All the while, Rosneft has followed Russia's political course, distancing itself from the West and turning instead towards large developing countries.