The Kremlin admits the possibility of imposing sanctions against Naftogaz

Russia may impose sanctions against Naftogaz due to the company’s arbitration. This was stated by the press secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov.

July 6 Chairman of the Board of the Corporation “Gazprom» Alexey Miller expelled imposing sanctions against Naftogaz, which will make any relationship between Russian companies and Ukrainian companies impossible.

“Well, of course, of course. This was a fairly well-reasoned statement by the head of Gazprom. The reasons why such a possibility is not ruled out were outlined there, ”Peskov emphasized, answering the question whether the issue of imposing sanctions is being considered.

The Kremlin will closely monitor how the situation with Naftogaz develops. Peskov did not voice any deadlines for imposing restrictions on the company, specifying that everything would depend on the situation. “We will not allow our interests or the interests of our company to be infringed,” he added.

On July 6, Miller also stated that “Gazprom”does not consider legitimate the arbitration of Naftogaz of Ukraine against itself and doubts the impartial consideration of the dispute in Switzerland, which has joined the anti-Russian sanctions. He also specified that Gazprom considers participation in the process pointless.

In April of this year, the Arbitration Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague decided to oblige Russia to pay compensation to the Naftogaz Ukrainy group in the amount of $5 billion for losses from the loss of assets in Crimea. Later, Naftogaz applied to the US District Court for the District of Columbia with a demand to enforce the court’s decision to recover these funds from Russia. The Ukrainian company refers to the 1958 New York Convention on Enforcement of an Arbitral Award and wants to start the process of enforcement of awards in the countries where Russian assets are located.

Lawyers interviewed by Vedomosti considerthat the recovery of Russian property in the United States and other countries as part of the enforcement of a court decision on the suit of Naftogaz may lead to retortions, i.e. retaliatory restrictions – recovery on the property of the United States and American companies that can be applied in Russia.