/ segodnya.ua
Naftogaz is not going to drop any claims, obliging Gazprom to pay considerable amounts to the Ukrainian company.
Energy expert Gennadii Riabtsev says National Joint-Stock Company Naftogaz of Ukraine through a number of lawsuits worth millions of dollars filed against Russia's Gazprom with international courts has greatly complicated the latter's business operations.
However, the Russian side has no intention to return the money, trying to "save face," Obozrevatel reports.
"It's worth noting that lawsuits made life very difficult for Gazprom worldwide since even to issue securities and receive the appropriate funds, they face problems from time to time. We know that Gazprom abandons certain plans because sanctions could be applied for forced debt recovery under the Stockholm Arbitration award," the expert told the Ukrainian online news outlet Obozrevatel on November 24, commenting on Russia's offer to extend gas transit via Ukraine, demanding in exchange that Kyiv drop its claims to Gazprom in international courts.
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At the same time, Naftogaz is not going to give up any claims, obliging Gazprom to pay considerable amounts to the Ukrainian company.
According to Riabtsev, lawsuits against Russia's gas giant are being drafted by a law firm hired by Naftogaz, and the efforts are worth the cost.
"Unfortunately, so far these have been the costs incurred by the Ukrainian side and Naftogaz only as there have been no payments from the Russian side. I greatly doubt that Gazprom will pay any amount, even the one set by the known award, US$2.5 billion. This would mean 'losing face', especially given the fact that when we say 'Gazprom', we mean 'Putin', and when we say 'Putin', we mean 'Gazprom'," the expert summed up.