MOSCOW, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The Russian government hopes to sell a 10 percent stake in VTB, the country's second biggest lender, for at least $3 billion in late 2010 or early 2011, First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on Tuesday.
Shuvalov also said that Russia is ready to reduce its stake in VTB's bigger rival Sberbank below a controlling level if that improves the bank's capitalisation and stability.
Russia is ready to ceede control in all major companies and banks if the price is right, he added. (Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya; Writing by Toni Vorobyova; Editing by Alfred Kueppers)