Sibneft is owned by Chelsea chairman Roman Abramovich

Sibneft has paid $300m (�158m) to Russian tax authorities, according to the Vedomosti business newspaper.

This is less than a third of the $1bn bill that Sibneft originally received.

Analysts said that if true it was welcome news, as it meant Moscow was relaxing the hardline tax approach that crippled fellow oil firm Yukos.

Kremlin relations

Yukos had its major oil unit forcibly sold off by Russian authorities last year after it could not pay a giant $27.5bn back tax bill.

Both it and Sibneft were accused of using loopholes to avoid their tax liabilities.

Some commentators believe Yukos was targeted with such a large sum as punishment for the political ambitions of its then-owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Mr Khodorkovsky is said to have angered the Kremlin after funding opposition political parties.

He is now in court on fraud and tax evasion charges, which he denies.

BP talks

By contrast, Sibneft owner Roman Abramovich - who also owns London's Chelsea Football Club - has always been seen as much more conciliatory in his relationship with the Russian authorities.

Sibneft would not comment on the newspaper report.

Last week Anglo-Russian oil firm TNK-BP became the latest to be hit with a back tax bill from Russian authorities.

The company, which is 50%-owned by UK oil giant BP, has been presented with a demand for $1bn.

BP's boss Lord Browne is due in Moscow this week for a meeting on the matter with President Vladimir Putin.