A visiting high level delegation led by Russia's deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin on Tuesday discussed the Sistema issue with the Indian side during bilateral talks between India and Russia.

"We sought definite solutions to certain outstanding problems confronting our business communities and explored ways to enhance our trade turnover," external affairs minister S M Krishna said while addressing the media with Rogozin.   

The Indian side is believed to have assured the Russian delegation that a judicial process was on to address the situation. Even Rogozin said that his presence shows how vital is the 'interest' his country in the issue.

"We feel that in this sensitive area, we must find... proper treatment to Russian economic entities participating in the local markets similar to other actors," he said.

SSTL has lost 21 spectrum licences following the Supreme Court’s February 2 verdict.  

Russian group Sistema had urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to support and intervene to ensure that its legitimate interests are not disregarded during the formation of the telecom sector policies.

"I ask for your support and intervention to ensure that the legitimate interests of SSTL and its stakeholders are not disregarded during the formation of the telecom sector policies," Sistema Chairman Vladimir Evtushenkov said in a letter to the Prime Minister.

He said SSTL's shareholders have invested over USD three billion to create a CDMA network and has more than 16 million users adding that the company invested with a long term view and to date have incurred billions of dollars in losses.

SSTL, in which the Russian government also has a stake of 17.14 per cent, offers CDMA services in the country under the MTS brand name.