Russian airline Aeroflot said its board would approve next week candidates to join the board after the purchase of two stakes in the firm earlier this year by new shareholders.

The company said in a statement that a board meeting had decided that Aug. 6 it would look at the list of candidates for company directors, who will be elected at a Sept. 6 extraordinary shareholders meeting.

The EGM was called at the insistence of two new shareholders, offshore firms Carroll Trading SA and Nimegan Trading, which each acquired stakes of around 10 percent in May. The government has 51.17 percent of the company.

The ownership of the offshore companies has not been revealed, but Russia's media has speculated that they are linked to billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich.

Abramovich is co-owner of oil company Sibneft and of top aluminum company Russian Aluminum (RusAL). Both RusAL and Sibneft have denied being direct shareholders in Aeroflot. Abramovich has not commented.

However, RusAL has said it had recommended one of its senior officials to the Aeroflot board after being asked to find a candidate by Sibirksy Aluminum, its other owner.

The Russian daily newspaper Kommersant said Tuesday that new shareholders were expected to win three seats on the nine-member board. Currently the government holds eight seats.

Analysts have said no major management changes were likely soon as the contract of the current management team – headed by CEO Valery Okulov – only expires next year.