This study explores corporate governance practices in Russian oil and gas companies over the 2009-2012 periods and examines the relationship between accounting performance measures and corporate governance mechanisms. Our findings suggest that managerial ownership and foreign ownership are positively associated with firm performance. Similarly, the results on government ownership also support our initial hypothesis and indicate that government ownership positively affects accounting performance. However, our findings suggest that board size and independent directors on the board do not appear to affect firm performance. This study demonstrates that corporate governance practices implemented in developed markets have some relevance and synergies to transition economies such asRussia.