Ukraine's Antitrust Fine on Gazprom Threatens European Gas Supplies - Moscow

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Friday that he had informed EU energy authorities as well as ministers of several European countries of the risks posed by Ukraine's decision to fine Russia's energy giant Gazprom over alleged anti-monopoly violations.

BRUSSELS (Sputnik) — The Economic Court of Kiev ruled on December 5 that Gazprom must pay $6.6 billion in fines and penalties to Ukraine for alleged violations of antitrust laws in the area of gas transit.

"We are greatly concerned about December 5 decision by Kiev Economic Court to impose a $6.6-billion fine on Gazprom," Novak told reporters following a EU-Russia-Ukraine energy meeting in Brussels.

"We believe that it is an absolutely illegal decision because it was not taken by the Stockholm Arbitration. This decision poses new risks to transit of Russian gas to European consumers…endangering reliable supplies, especially during the winter period," Novak stressed.